Physiological roles of zinc transporters: molecular and genetic importance in zinc homeostasis

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• 作者：Takafumi Hara ; Taka-aki Takeda ; Teruhisa Takagishi…
• 关键词：Zinc ; Transporter ; Zinc signaling ; Physiology ; Disease
• 刊名：The Journal of Physiological Sciences
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：March 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：67
• 期：2
• 页码：283-301
• 全文大小：
• 刊物主题：Human Physiology; Neurosciences; Animal Biochemistry; Animal Physiology; Cell Physiology; Neurobiology;
• 出版者：Springer Japan
• ISSN：1880-6562
• 卷排序：67

文摘

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace mineral that regulates the expression and activation of biological molecules such as transcription factors, enzymes, adapters, channels, and growth factors, along with their receptors. Zn deficiency or excessive Zn absorption disrupts Zn homeostasis and affects growth, morphogenesis, and immune response, as well as neurosensory and endocrine functions. Zn levels must be adjusted properly to maintain the cellular processes and biological responses necessary for life. Zn transporters regulate Zn levels by controlling Zn influx and efflux between extracellular and intracellular compartments, thus, modulating the Zn concentration and distribution. Although the physiological functions of the Zn transporters remain to be clarified, there is growing evidence that Zn transporters are related to human diseases, and that Zn transporter-mediated Zn ion acts as a signaling factor, called “Zinc signal”. Here we describe critical roles of Zn transporters in the body and their contribution at the molecular, biochemical, and genetic levels, and review recently reported disease-related mutations in the Zn transporter genes.