SLC39A1
Description
The SLC39A1 (solute carrier family 39 member 1) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 1.
The SLC39A1 gene encodes the ZIP1 protein, which is responsible for actively transporting zinc into prostate cells. In many prostate cancers, SLC39A1 is silenced, leading to low zinc levels in the cancer cells.
SLC39A1 (ZIP1) is a zinc transporter protein that mediates the influx of zinc ions (Zn(2+)) into cells from the extracellular space, acting as a major importer of zinc from blood plasma into prostate cells. (PMID:11301334, PMID:12888280, PMID:16844077)
SLC39A1 is also known as ZIP1, ZIRTL.
