SLC39 (Zinc Transporter)

SLC39 is a major zinc transporter family that affects the absorption, distribution and metabolism of zinc, controls intracellular zinc homeostasis. SLC39 transporters are encoded in human by 14 genome, which are divided into four subfamilies: subfamily I includes ZIP9 that mediates the zinc transport in the Golgi apparatus; subfamily II includes ZIP1/2/3 that transports zinc from the extracellular or organelles into the cytoplasm, regulates the zinc absorption; gufA subfamily includes ZIP11 and LIV-1 subfamily includes ZIP4/5/6/7/8/10/12/13/14 that regulate zinc absorption, transport and excretion, and are related to immune system function, inflammatory response, cadmium toxicity and iron metabolism. SLC39 dysfunction causes neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, inflammation, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and asthma^[1].