background:
ZNT8 is a zinc efflux transporter involved in the accumulation of zinc in intracellular vesicles. This gene is expressed at a high level only in the pancreas, particularly in islets of Langerhans. The encoded protein colocalizes with insulin in the secretory pathway granules of the insulin-secreting INS-1 cells. Allelic variants of this gene exist that confer susceptibility to diabetes mellitus, noninsulin-dependent (NIDDM). Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.[provided by RefSeq, Mar 2010].
Function:
Facilitates the accumulation of zinc from the cytoplasm into intracellular vesicles, being a zinc-efflux transporter. May be a major component for providing zinc to insulin maturation and/or storage processes in insulin-secreting pancreatic beta-cells
Subunit:
Homodimer (By similarity).
Subcellular Location:
Cell membrane; Multi-pass membrane protein (Probable). Cytoplasmic vesicle, secretory vesicle membrane; Multi-pass membrane protein (Probable). Note=Associated with insulin and glucagon secretory granules (By similarity).
Tissue Specificity:
In the endocrine pancreas, expressed in insulin-producing beta cells. Expressed at relatively high levels in subcutaneous fat tissue from lean persons; much lower levels in visceral fat, whether from lean or obese individuals, and in subcutaneous fat tissue from obese individuals. Expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, including T-cells and B-cells, with great variation among individuals ranging from negative to strongly positive.
Similarity:
Belongs to the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) transporter (TC 2.A.4) family. SLC30A subfamily.
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 169026 Human
Omim: 611145 Human
SwissProt: Q8IWU4 Human
Unigene: 532270 Human
Important Note:
This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications.
|
|
