Zinc transporter proteins (Zrt), or simply zinc transporters, are
membrane transport protein
A membrane transport protein (or simply transporter) is a membrane protein involved in the movement of ions, small molecules, and macromolecules, such as another protein, across a biological membrane. Transport proteins are integral transmemb ...
s of the
solute carrier family which control the
membrane transport
In cellular biology, membrane transport refers to the collection of mechanisms that regulate the passage of solutes such as ions and small molecules through biological membranes, which are lipid bilayers that contain proteins embedded in them. The ...
of
zinc
Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. Zinc is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodi ...
and regulate its
intracellular
This glossary of biology terms is a list of definitions of fundamental terms and concepts used in biology, the study of life and of living organisms. It is intended as introductory material for novices; for more specific and technical definitions ...
and
cytoplasm
In cell biology, the cytoplasm is all of the material within a eukaryotic cell, enclosed by the cell membrane, except for the cell nucleus. The material inside the nucleus and contained within the nuclear membrane is termed the nucleoplasm. ...
ic concentrations.
They include two major groups: (1) the zinc transporter (ZnT) or solute carrier 30 (SLC30) family, which controls the
efflux of zinc from the cytoplasm out of the cell and from the cytoplasm into
vesicle
Vesicle may refer to:
; In cellular biology or chemistry
* Vesicle (biology and chemistry)
In cell biology, a vesicle is a structure within or outside a cell, consisting of liquid or cytoplasm enclosed by a lipid bilayer. Vesicles form nat ...
s; and (2) the zinc importer, Zrt- and Irt-like protein (ZIP), or solute carrier 39A (SLC39A) family, which controls the
influx of zinc into the cytoplasm from outside the cell and from vesicles.
At least one zinc transporter,
ZIP9, is also a
G protein-coupled receptor
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), also known as seven-(pass)-transmembrane domain receptors, 7TM receptors, heptahelical receptors, serpentine receptors, and G protein-linked receptors (GPLR), form a large group of evolutionarily-related p ...
and
membrane androgen receptor.
Families
ZnT (SLC30)
Members:
ZnT1,
ZnT2,
ZnT3,
ZnT4,
ZnT5,
ZnT6,
ZnT7,
ZnT8,
ZnT9,
ZnT10
Bacterial members of the family are known to increase tolerance to high salt concentrations.
ZntB Zinc Transporter Protein
Unlike some other zinc transporter proteins, the mechanism of how Zn
2+ is transported via ZntB is not well understood. However, scientists have been able to speculate that the transport of Zn
2+ is related to pH gradient and the electrostatics of the protein membrane.
ZIP (SLC39)
ZIP1,
ZIP2
Zip2 was a company that provided and licensed online city guide software to newspapers. The company was founded in Palo Alto, California as Global Link Information Network in 1995, by Greg Kouri and brothers Elon and Kimbal Musk. Initially, Gl ...
,
ZIP3,
ZIP4,
ZIP5,
ZIP6,
ZIP7 (
''Catsup''),
ZIP8,
ZIP9,
ZIP10,
ZIP11,
ZIP12,
ZIP13,
ZIP14
The structure of a bacterial ZIP protein has been resolved.
References
Solute carrier family
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