Zinc is a transition metal and catalytic cofactor involved in many biological processes such as proliferation, development and differentiation, regulation of DNA synthesis, genomic stability, cell activation, RNA transcription, immune function. Zinc homeostasis in cells is ensured by various protein families including zinc transporters, zinc-binding proteins (Metallothioneins, MTs), transcription factors (MTF1-2). ZnT (1-10) transporters are responsible of zinc efflux and are assigned to the SLC30A family while ZIP (1-14) transporters are responsible for the influx of zinc into the cytoplasm and are assigned to the SLC39A family. Zn2+ enters into the cell by the ZIP transporters, and once inside the cell is available to bind metalloproteins (MT) which deliver to ZnT, or the zinc can bind to directly ZnTs and then deliver in the organelles / vesicles or lead outside the cell. Elevated zinc levels have been reported in different tumour tissue, such as breast and lung cancerMetal-response element-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) functions as a cellular zinc sensor which coordinates the expression of genes involved in zinc homeostasis.b85c8bb6bType your comment hereSLC39A1 (ZIP1) transporter is responsible for the influx of zinc into the cytoplasmzinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTsSLC30A1 (ZnT1) transporter is responsible of zinc effluxzinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTszinc is chelated by cytoplasmic proteins, such as MTscc2http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/169026http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/169026http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/169026eafd4chomeostasis pathwayPW:0000355Pathway Ontology10755665PubMedInduction, regulation, degradation, and biological significance of mammalian metallothioneins.Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol2000Miles ATHawksworth GMBeattie JHRodilla V24416395PubMedMetallothionein - immunohistochemical cancer biomarker: a meta-analysis.PLoS One2014Gumulec JRaudenska MAdam VKizek RMasarik M23506888PubMedThe SLC30 family of zinc transporters - a review of current understanding of their biological and pathophysiological roles2013Huang LTepaamorndech S.24710731PubMedCurrent understanding of ZIP and ZnT zinc transporters in human health and diseases.Cell Mol Life Sci.2014Kambe THashimoto AFujimoto S.23506894PubMedThe SLC39 family of zinc transportersMol Aspects Med. 20132013Jeong JEide DJ22057392PubMedA conserved cysteine cluster, essential for transcriptional activity, mediates homodimerization of human metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF-1).201211831458PubMedCellular zinc sensors: MTF-1 regulation of gene expression200122289350PubMedThe taste of heavy metals: gene regulation by MTF-1201217344318PubMedRole of GAC63 in transcriptional activation mediated by beta-catenin.Chen YH; Yang CK; Xia M; Ou CY; Stallcup MR2007