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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Characterizing Mammalian Zinc Transporters Using an In Vitro Zinc Transport Assay
Published on: June 2, 2023
Intracellular zinc inhibits KCC2 transporter activity
Michal Hershfinkel1, Karl Kandler, Megan E Knoch
1Department of Morphology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel. hmichal@bgu.ac.il
Abstract:
We found that K(+)/Cl(-) co-transporter 2 (KCC2) activity, monitored with wide-field fluorescence, was inhibited by intracellular Zn(2+), a major component of neuronal injury. Zn(2+)-mediated KCC2 inhibition produced a depolarizing shift of GABA(A) reversal potentials in rat cortical neurons. Moreover, oxygen-glucose deprivation attenuated KCC2 activity in a Zn(2+)-dependent manner. The link between Zn(2+) and KCC2 activity provides a previously unknown target for neuroprotection and may be important in activity-dependent regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission.
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