Zinc transporters SLC30A1 and SLC39A10 (ZnT1 and ZIP10)

Zinc transporters SLC30A1 (ZnT1) and SLC39A10 (ZIP10) are essential regulators of cellular zinc homeostasis, functioning as the primary efflux and influx mechanisms, respectively. SLC30A1 is a member of the SLC30 (ZnT) family that exports zinc from the cytoplasm to the extracellular space or into organelles, while SLC39A10 belongs to the SLC39 (ZIP) family and facilitates the uptake of zinc into the cytosol [1, 8, 16]. Together, they maintain the precise intracellular zinc concentrations required for the structural integrity and catalytic activity of over 10% of the human proteome, including numerous enzymes and transcription factors [1, 6]. Dysregulation of these transporters is implicated in a wide range of pathologies. SLC39A10 is often upregulated in various cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer, where it promotes tumor cell proliferation, migration, and resistance to apoptosis [3, 12, 21]. It also plays a critical role in B-cell and T-cell survival and embryonic hematopoiesis [5, 14, 30]. Conversely, SLC30A1 is vital for systemic zinc balance and intestinal barrier integrity, and its mutations have been linked to primary aldosteronism [8, 16]. Therapeutic targeting of these transporters, through small molecule modulators or antibodies, aims to disrupt the zinc-dependent signaling pathways that drive disease progression, although challenges remain regarding the potential for systemic zinc imbalance and toxicity [1, 3, 17].

Other names

Solute carrier family 30 member 1Solute carrier family 39 member 10ZnT1ZIP10Zinc transporter 1Zrt- and Irt-like protein 10SLC30A1SLC39A10

Modulation of intracellular zinc levels through efflux (SLC30A1) and influx (SLC39A10) to regulate zinc-dependent signaling pathways, including STAT3, p53, and caspase-mediated apoptosis.