Along with the SLC39 family, SLC30 transporters regulate the movement of zinc ions around the cell. In particular, these transporters remove zinc ions from the cytosol, allowing accumulation into intracellular compartments or efflux through the plasma membrane. ZnT1 is thought to be placed on the plasma membrane extruding zinc, while ZnT3 is associated with synaptic vesicles and ZnT4 and ZnT5 are linked with secretory granules. Membrane topology predictions suggest a multimeric assembly, potentially heteromultimeric [4], with subunits having six TM domains, and both termini being cytoplasmic. Dityrosine covalent linking has been suggested as a mechanism for dimerisation, particularly for ZnT3 [3]. The mechanism for zinc transport is unknown.

ZnT8/SLC30A8 is described as a type 1 diabetes susceptibility gene.

Zinc fluxes may be monitored through the use of radioisotopic Zn-65 or the fluorescent dye FluoZin 3.

* Key recommended reading is highlighted with an asterisk

* Bouron A, Oberwinkler J. (2014) Contribution of calcium-conducting channels to the transport of zinc ions. Pflugers Arch, 466 (3): 381-7. [PMID:23719866]

* Hojyo S, Fukada T. (2016) Zinc transporters and signaling in physiology and pathogenesis. Arch Biochem Biophys, 611: 43-50. [PMID:27394923]

* Huang L, Tepaamorndech S. (2013) The SLC30 family of zinc transporters - a review of current understanding of their biological and pathophysiological roles. Mol Aspects Med, 34 (2-3): 548-60. [PMID:23506888]

* Kambe T, Hashimoto A, Fujimoto S. (2014) Current understanding of ZIP and ZnT zinc transporters in human health and diseases. Cell Mol Life Sci, 71 (17): 3281-95. [PMID:24710731]

* Kambe T, Tsuji T, Hashimoto A, Itsumura N. (2015) The Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Roles of Zinc Transporters in Zinc Homeostasis and Metabolism. Physiol Rev, 95 (3): 749-784. [PMID:26084690]

Kawasaki E. (2012) ZnT8 and type 1 diabetes. Endocr J, 59 (7): 531-7. [PMID:22447136]

Marger L, Schubert CR, Bertrand D. (2014) Zinc: an underappreciated modulatory factor of brain function. Biochem Pharmacol, 91 (4): 426-35. [PMID:25130547]

Palmiter RD, Huang L. (2004) Efflux and compartmentalization of zinc by members of the SLC30 family of solute carriers. Pflugers Arch, 447 (5): 744-51. [PMID:12748859]

Rungby J. (2010) Zinc, zinc transporters and diabetes. Diabetologia, 53 (8): 1549-51. [PMID:20490449]

Wang X, Zhou B. (2010) Dietary zinc absorption: A play of Zips and ZnTs in the gut. IUBMB Life, 62 (3): 176-82. [PMID:20120011]

1. Deng H, Qiao X, Xie T, Fu W, Li H, Zhao Y, Guo M, Feng Y, Chen L, Zhao Y et al.. (2021) SLC-30A9 is required for Zn²⁺ homeostasis, Zn²⁺ mobilization, and mitochondrial health. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 118 (35). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023909118 [PMID:34433664]

2. Liu C, Jursa T, Aschner M, Smith DR, Mukhopadhyay S. (2021) Up-regulation of the manganese transporter SLC30A10 by hypoxia-inducible factors defines a homeostatic response to manganese toxicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 118 (35). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107673118 [PMID:34446561]

3. Salazar G, Falcon-Perez JM, Harrison R, Faundez V. (2009) SLC30A3 (ZnT3) oligomerization by dityrosine bonds regulates its subcellular localization and metal transport capacity. PLoS ONE, 4 (6): e5896. [PMID:19521526]

4. Suzuki T, Ishihara K, Migaki H, Ishihara K, Nagao M, Yamaguchi-Iwai Y, Kambe T. (2005) Two different zinc transport complexes of cation diffusion facilitator proteins localized in the secretory pathway operate to activate alkaline phosphatases in vertebrate cells. J Biol Chem, 280 (35): 30956-62. [PMID:15994300]