The zinc-activated channel (ZAC, nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee for the Zinc Activated Channel) is a member of the Cys-loop family that includes the nicotinic ACh, 5-HT₃, GABA_A and strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors [1-3]. The channel is likely to exist as a homopentamer of 4TM subunits that form an intrinsic cation selective channel equipermeable to Na⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺, but impermeable to Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ [3]. ZAC displays constitutive activity that can be blocked by tubocurarine and high concentrations of Ca²⁺ [3]. Although denoted ZAC, the channel is more potently activated by protons and copper, with greater and lesser efficacy than zinc, respectively [3]. ZAC is present in the human, chimpanzee, dog, cow and opossum genomes, but is functionally absent from mouse, or rat, genomes [1-2].

The ZAC subunit does not appear to exist in the mouse or rat genomes [1]. Although tabulated as an antagonist, it is possible that tubocurarine acts as a channel blocker. Antagonism by Ca²⁺ is voltage-independent. ZAC is not activated (at 1 mM) by transition metals including Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, or Al³⁺ [3]. The concentration response relationship to Cu²⁺ is biphasic, with concentrations exceeding 30 μM being associated with reduced activation [3].

* Key recommended reading is highlighted with an asterisk

* Collingridge GL, Olsen RW, Peters J, Spedding M. (2009) A nomenclature for ligand-gated ion channels. Neuropharmacology, 56 (1): 2-5. [PMID:18655795]

* Peralta FA, Huidobro-Toro JP. (2016) Zinc as Allosteric Ion Channel Modulator: Ionotropic Receptors as Metalloproteins. Int J Mol Sci, 17 (7). [PMID:27384555]

* Trattnig SM, Gasiorek A, Deeb TZ, Ortiz EJ, Moss SJ, Jensen AA, Davies PA. (2016) Copper and protons directly activate the zinc-activated channel. Biochem. Pharmacol., 103: 109-17. [PMID:26872532]

1. Davies PA, Wang W, Hales TG, Kirkness EF. (2003) A novel class of ligand-gated ion channel is activated by Zn2+. J. Biol. Chem., 278 (2): 712-7. [PMID:12381728]

2. Houtani T, Munemoto Y, Kase M, Sakuma S, Tsutsumi T, Sugimoto T. (2005) Cloning and expression of ligand-gated ion-channel receptor L2 in central nervous system. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 335 (2): 277-85. [PMID:16083862]

3. Trattnig SM, Gasiorek A, Deeb TZ, Ortiz EJ, Moss SJ, Jensen AA, Davies PA. (2016) Copper and protons directly activate the zinc-activated channel. Biochem. Pharmacol., 103: 109-17. [PMID:26872532]