Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1 (also known as NRAMP2 or DCT1))

Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), also known as natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 2 (NRAMP2) or solute carrier family 11 member 2 (SLC11A2), is a transmembrane protein responsible for the uptake of various divalent metal ions—most notably ferrous iron (\(\mathrm{Fe}^{2+}\)), but also manganese (\(\mathrm{Mn}^{2+}\)), zinc (\(\mathrm{Zn}^{2+}\)), copper (\(\mathrm{Cu}^{2+}\)), cadmium (\(\mathrm{Cd}^{2+}\)), and calcium (\(\mathrm{Ca}^{2+}\)). It is highly conserved across species from bacteria to humans. In mammals, it plays a critical role in dietary iron absorption in the intestine by transporting reduced \(\mathrm{Fe}^{2+}\) into enterocytes. Its broad substrate specificity means that it can mediate uptake not only of essential metals but also potentially toxic ones. Dysregulation or mutation in this transporter is associated with diseases involving abnormal metal homeostasis such as anemia or overload syndromes[3][4][5].

Other names

Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 2 (NRAMP2)Divalent cation transporter 1 (DCT1)SLC11A2Metal ion transporter

H^+-coupled symport of divalent metal cations from the extracellular environment into cells