Structural and functional insights of ZnT1 C-terminal domain as a regulator of zinc transport.

ABSTRACT: Zinc is an essential trace element vital for cellular function, and its homeostasis is tightly regulated. ZnT1, a cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) family member, extrudes excess zinc across the mammalian plasma membrane, making it a major part of the zinc homeostasis system. While ZnT1 shares structural similarities with other CDF proteins, the role of its C-terminal domain (CTD) in zinc transport remains unclear. We used structural determination and comparative analysis, site-directed mutagenesis, and functional zinc transport assays to demonstrate that the ZnT1 CTD is a regulatory element. The regulation involves a distinct CTD conformational change upon structural, non-transported zinc binding. The observed conformational changes in the mammalian CTD are different from those observed

SUBMITTER: Ben Yosef TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12290082 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature