Zinc transporter proteins (Zrt), or simply zinc transporters, are

membrane transport protein A membrane transport protein 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 membrane proteins, integral transmembr ...

s of the

solute carrier family The solute carrier (SLC) group of membrane transport proteins include over 400 members organized into 66 families. Most members of the SLC group are located in the cell membrane. The SLC gene nomenclature system was originally proposed by the HUGO ...

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. Th ...

zinc Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It 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 periodic tabl ...

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 The cytoplasm describes all the material within a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell, enclosed by the cell membrane, including the organelles and excluding the nucleus in eukaryotic cells. The material inside the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell a ...

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), a supramolecular assembly of lipid molecules, like a cell membrane * Synaptic vesicle ; In human embryology * Vesicle (embryology), bulge-like features ...

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 ...

and

membrane androgen receptor Membrane androgen receptors (mARs) are a group of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which bind and are activated by testosterone and/or other androgens. Unlike the androgen receptor (AR), a nuclear receptor which mediates its effects via genomic ...

Families

ZnT (SLC30)

Members: ZnT1, ZnT2, ZnT3, ZnT4, ZnT5, ZnT6, ZnT7,

ZnT8 Zinc transporter 8 (ZNT8) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SLC30A8'' gene. ZNT8 is a zinc transporter related to insulin secretion in humans. In particular, ZNT8 is critical for the accumulation of zinc into beta cell secretory gr ...

, 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 Zn²⁺ is transported via ZntB is not well understood. However, scientists have been able to speculate that the transport of Zn²⁺ is related to pH gradient and the electrostatics of the protein membrane.

ZIP (SLC39)

ZIP1, ZIP2, 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 {{membrane-protein-stub