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Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
Zng1 is a GTP-dependent zinc transferase needed for activation of methionine aminopeptidase
Miriam Pasquini1, Nicolas Grosjean1, Kim K Hixson2
1Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA.
Abstract:
The evolution of zinc (Zn) as a protein cofactor altered the functional landscape of biology, but dependency on Zn also created an Achilles' heel, necessitating adaptive mechanisms to ensure Zn availability to proteins. A debated strategy is whether metallochaperones exist to prioritize essential Zn-dependent proteins. Here, we present evidence for a conserved family of putative metal transferases in human and fungi, which interact with Zn-dependent methionine aminopeptidase type I (MetAP1/Map1p/Fma1). Deletion of the putative metal transferase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ZNG1; formerly YNR029c) leads to defective Map1p function and a Zn-deficiency growth defect. In vitro, Zng1p can transfer Zn2+ or Co2+ to apo-Map1p, but unlike characterized copper chaperones, transfer is dependent on GTP hydrolysis. Proteomics reveal mis-regulation of the Zap1p transcription factor regulon because of loss of ZNG1 and Map1p activity, suggesting that Zng1p is required to avoid a compounding effect of Map1p dysfunction on survival during Zn limitation.
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