Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
Getting zinc into and out of cells
Gaurav Sharma1, Majid Jafari1, Kenneth M Merz2
1Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
Abstract:
Ion channels are specialized proteins located on the plasma membrane and control the movement of ions across the membrane. Zn ion plays an indispensable role as a structural constituent of various proteins, moreover, it plays an important dynamic role in cell signaling. In this chapter, we discuss computational insights into zinc efflux and influx mechanism through YiiP (from Escherichia coli and Shewanella oneidensis) and BbZIP (Bordetella bronchiseptica) transporters, respectively. Gaining knowledge about the mechanism of zinc transport at the molecular level can aid in developing treatments for conditions such as diabetes and cancer by manipulating extracellular and intracellular levels of zinc ions.
Related Concept Videos
Transcellular Transport of Solutes
Carrier-Mediated Transport
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine
Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport
Protein sorting can be of two types: signal-based sorting and vesicle-based trafficking. In signal-based sorting, specific amino acid sequences called sorting signals target proteins to the proper location inside the cell either via gated transport or by protein translocation. In gated transport, folded...
Protein Transport into the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Transport of mitochondrial precursors across the TIM23 channel is driven by...
Mineral, Vitamin and Water Absorption

