Magnesium and manganese binding sites on proteins have the same predominant motif of secondary structure.

Manganese ion (Mn(2+)) can substitute magnesium ion (Mg(2+)) in active sites of numerous enzymes. Binding sites for these two ions have been studied in two sets of protein 3D structures from the Protein Data Bank with the homology level lower than 25%. The structural motif "beta strand - binder - random coil" is predominant in both Mn(2+) and Mg(2+) coordination spheres, especially in functionally relevant ones. That predominant motif works as an active binder of those divalent cations which can then attract additional ligands, such as different phosphate-containing compounds. In contrast, such Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) binding motif as "GK(T/S)T" being the N-terminal part of alpha helices works as an active binder of phosphates which can then attract divalent cations. There are few differences between Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) coordination spheres responsible of the cation specificity. His residues are underrepresented in certain positions around Asp and Glu residues involved in Mg(2+) coordination, while they are overrepresented in certain positions around Asp and Glu residues coordinating Mn(2+). The random coil region in the "beta strand - random coil - alpha helix" motif for Mg(2+) binding is usually shorter than that in the same motif for Mn(2+) coordination. This feature is associated with the lower number of binding amino acids (and lower levels of usage of such "major" binders as Asp and Glu) for Mg(2+) (which is a hard Lewis acid) in comparison with those for Mn(2+) (an intermediate Lewis acid).