The invention relates to methods to identify new SLC41A1 functions at thecell, tissue, organand organism level. ln part, it is related to methods useful in (a)identifying molecules thatbind SLC41A1 polypeptides, which (b) modulate SLC41A1 related Na+/Mg2+exchangeractivity or its cellular or tissue specific expression.Thus, the invention comprises SLC41A1 mutation libraries, SLC41A1 specificantibodies,their generation and finding as well as an inducible conditional SLC41A1 knockout micemodel and inducible conditional knock out SLC41A1 cell lines.
