SLC39A8 gene encoding a metal ion transporter: discovery and bench to bedside.

ABSTRACT: SLC39A8 is an evolutionarily highly conserved gene that encodes the ZIP8 metal cation transporter in all vertebrates. SLC39A8 is ubiquitously expressed, including pluripotent embryonic stem cells; SLC39A8 expression occurs in every cell type examined. Uptake of ZIP8-mediated Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Se⁴⁺, and Co²⁺ represents endogenous functions-moving these cations into the cell. By way of mouse genetic differences, the phenotype of "subcutaneous cadmium-induced testicular necrosis" was assigned to the Cdm locus in the 1970s. This led to identification of the mouse Slc39a8 gene, its most closely related Slc39a14 gene, and creation of Slc39a8-overexpressing, Slc39a8(neo/neo) knockdown, and cell type-specific conditional knockout mouse lines;

SUBMITTER: Nebert DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6744627 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature