Why and how to investigate the role of protein phosphorylation in ZIP and ZnT zinc transporter activity and regulation.

ABSTRACT: Zinc is required for the regulation of proliferation, metabolism, and cell signaling. It is an intracellular second messenger, and the cellular level of ionic, mobile zinc is strictly controlled by zinc transporters. In mammals, zinc homeostasis is primarily regulated by ZIP and ZnT zinc transporters. The importance of these transporters is underscored by the list of diseases resulting from changes in transporter expression and activity. However, despite numerous structural studies of the transporters revealing both zinc binding sites and motifs important for transporter function, the exact molecular mechanisms regulating ZIP and ZnT activities are still not clear. For example, protein phosphorylation was found to regulate ZIP7 activity resulting in the release of Zn²⁺ from intr

SUBMITTER: Thingholm TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7391401 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature