锌转运蛋白基因研究进展

锌作为一种重要的微量元素参与了植物体内广泛的生理和生化过程,本文详细介绍了涉及Zn^2＋吸收转运的ZIP基因家族（ZRT／IRT相关蛋白）和CDF（Cation　diffusion　facilitator）家族。ZIP家族转运蛋白主要负责将Zn^2＋等二价阳离子跨膜转运进细胞内,以完成细胞内多种生理生化反应。CDF家族转运蛋白主要负责将过量Zn^2＋运出细胞,或者将细胞内过量Zn^2＋进行区室化隔离,降低Zn^2＋对细胞的危害作用。ZIP家族转运蛋白和CDF家族转运蛋白的相互协调使得Zn^2＋在细胞和有机体水平上维持着稳态,进而为细胞内各种生理生化反应的进行供一种保障机制。     

锌转运蛋白家族SLC39A/ZIP和SLC30A/ZnT的研究进展

必需微量元素锌通过催化和结构作用参与机体多种酶和蛋白功能,与机体发育、脑功能、骨骼生长、生殖健康及免疫功能等密切相关。补充锌可以一定程度防治儿童腹泻、慢性丙型肝炎、急性下呼吸道感染以及感冒等疾病,然而过多的锌具有毒性。因此,机体存在复杂的锌离子稳态体系维持锌离子的吸收、储存和丢失的平衡过程。已发现哺乳动物中SLC39A和SLC30A两个转运蛋白家族直接参与细胞内锌离子的稳态代谢。SLC39A家族又称ZIP家族,共有14个成员,该家族多个成员已被证明可促进细胞外或细胞器内的锌离子转运到细胞质;SLC30A家族又称ZnT家族,共有10个成员,与SLC39A家族功能相反,多个家族成员可协助锌离子从细胞质内流出到细胞外或流进到细胞器内。研究提示ZnT1、ZIP4和ZIP5参与小肠锌离子吸收过程,ZIP10和ZnT1参与肾脏锌离子再吸收过程,ZIP5、ZnT2和ZnT1参与胰腺锌离子分泌丢失过程。另有证据证明SLC39A和SLC30A两个家族的蛋白还可能参与许多疾病包括肿瘤及糖尿病的发生和发展。本文将对哺乳动物SLC39A和SLC30A两个锌转运蛋白家族的最新研究进展进行综述。     

锌离子、锌转运蛋白——细胞信号通路的新调控因子

锌(Zn)是人体内含量第二的必需微量金属元素,锌过量或缺失与多种发育缺陷和疾病发生高度相关。细胞内外锌离子转运及稳态维持主要依靠锌转运蛋白来实现。依据锌离子转运方向,锌转运蛋白分为ZIP和ZnT两个家族。锌离子和锌转运蛋白不仅能够作为重要的结构/催化因子调节相关蛋白(特别是酶)的活性,还可以作为信使广泛地参与多种细胞信号转导途径。而与其他功能相比,锌离子和锌转运蛋白作为信号调节因子的研究起步较晚,但近年来进展很快。该文聚焦于ZIP和ZnT家族成员,简要介绍其蛋白结构、分布位置、及转运机制等研究成果,重点总结近年来有关锌转运蛋白直接或间接地(通过调节胞内锌离子)调控细胞信号通路的分子机制的研究进展。     

植物锌铁转运蛋白ZIP基因家族的研究进展

金属离子对植物的正常发育至关重要,但过量又会中毒.植物体内的自动调节平衡机制会调节金属离子的吸收和运输,从而控制金属离子的含量.锌铁调控蛋白ZIP( ZRT,IRT-like protein)家族是广泛存在于植物中的转运蛋白,具有Ca2+、Fe2+、Mn2+及Zn2+等多种金属元素的转运功能.了解ZIP转运体在植物中如何发挥离子转运功能,从分子水平认识金属离子缺乏或过量积累的机理有重要意义.综述拟南芥、水稻、大麦、苜蓿和玉米ZIP家族成员及其研究进展.     

ZIP蛋白在植物中的功能分析

锌和铁是植物生长发育所必需的微量营养元素,在植物的光合作用、呼吸作用以及许多生化反应中起着非常重要的作用。植物体内锌铁处于平衡状态才能保证其正常的生长发育,而锌铁调控转运体ZIP对于锌铁吸收、转运及体内平衡的调节有重要作用。目前,对于植物中ZIP家族基因的研究有一定进展。对植物ZIP基因的表达、蛋白定位、酵母互补实验、过表达及基因敲除等研究结果进行综述,揭示了ZIP蛋白在植物发育过程中的作用。了解ZIP对于锌铁吸收、转运及体内平衡中的作用有助于通过转基因改良及常规育种将ZIP蛋白应用于农业生产上。     

植物铜转运蛋白的结构和功能

铜(Cu)是植物必需的微量营养元素, 参与植物生长发育过程中的许多生理生化反应。Cu缺乏或过量都会影响植物的正常新陈代谢过程。因此, 植物需要一系列Cu转运蛋白协同作用以保持体内Cu离子的稳态平衡。通常, Cu转运蛋白可分为两类, 即吸收型Cu转运蛋白(如COPT、ZIP和YSL蛋白家族)和排出型Cu转运蛋白(如HMA蛋白家族), 主要负责Cu离子的跨膜转运及调节Cu离子的吸收和排出。然而, 最近有研究表明, 有些Cu伴侣蛋白家族可能是从Cu转运蛋白家族进化而来, 且它们在维持植物细胞Cu离子稳态平衡中也具重要功能。该文对Cu转运蛋白和Cu伴侣蛋白的表达、结构、定位及功能等研究进展进行综述。     

水稻锌铁转运蛋白ZIP基因家族研究进展

锌(zinc, Zn)和铁(iron, Fe)是水稻(Oryza sativa L.)生长必需的矿质元素,也是人体必需的微量元素。水稻体内Zn、Fe含量维持在适宜水平有利于提高其产量和品质,提高稻米中Zn、Fe含量能够在一定程度上解决人体Zn、Fe营养缺乏的问题。因此,研究水稻中Zn和Fe等微量元素转运蛋白的具体功能对于提高水稻产量和稻米品质具有重要意义。锌铁转运蛋白(zinc-regulated transporters and iron-regulated transporter-like protein, ZIP)负责Zn和Fe等离子的吸收、转运和分配,是维持水稻中Zn和Fe平衡的重要转运蛋白,其表达水平受Zn和Fe水平影响。ZIP基因家族在自然群体中具有丰富的等位变异,而且某些单倍型存在明显的籼粳分化,这可能造成了不同品种间籼、粳稻中Zn和Fe积累的差异。目前,已有大量关于ZIP基因家族的研究,但只有OsZIP3的作用机制研究的较为清楚。另外,对Zn、Fe在籽粒中的积累机制研究和自然群体中ZIP基因的等位变异研究还不够深入。因此,ZIP转运蛋白家族仍存在较大的研究空间。本文详细介绍了ZIP转运蛋白在水稻体内的亚细胞定位、表达模式、转运机制以及在自然群体中的等位变异等,以期为研究水稻稻米微量元素的积累提供理论基础,为提高稻米品质提供借鉴。     

锌转运体ZIPs和骨骼肌损伤修复的研究现状与进展

锌是与骨骼肌损伤和修复密切相关的微量元素,参与肌肉损伤后的炎症、氧化应激反应、肌细胞增殖分化等过程,而锌转运体ZIPs则是调节机体内锌的分布、存储、利用的重要媒介之一,因此,锌转运体ZIPs在骨骼肌损伤、修复的过程中可能起到重要的调节作用。该文对与炎症反应、肌细胞增殖分化有关的转运体ZIPs (ZIP7、8、14等)和骨骼肌损伤修复进行综述,为今后对ZIPs与骨骼肌损伤修复两者之间的关系探究提供参考。     

植物重金属超富集机理研究进展

植物超富集重金属机理主要涉及植物对金属离子高的吸收、运输能力,区域化作用及螯合作用等方面,其中跨膜运载蛋白的表达、调控对重金属超富集这一特性起了关键作用。金属阳离子运载蛋白家族主要包括CDF家族、NRAMP家族和ZIP家族等,在超富集植物中已克隆出多个家族的金属运载蛋白基因,这些基因的过量表达对重金属在细胞中的运输、分布和富集及提高植物的抗性方面发挥了重要作用。综述了近年来研究重金属超富集植物吸收、转运和贮存Zn、Ni、Cd等重金属的生理和分子机制所取得的主要进展。     

紫云英丛枝菌根共生锌转运蛋白基因AsZIP2的克隆与表达调控

土壤中锌的缺乏已成为农业中普遍存在的问题,会导致粮食的减产减质。ZIP家族蛋白质对农作物吸收Zn与Fe起着关键作用。本研究利用RACE技术从豆科植物紫云英中分离到一个全长的ZIP家族Zn转运基因,命名为AsZIP2;利用热不对称交错PCR与反向PCR方法获取了AsZIP2基因上游长度为1.6 kb的启动子序列。生物信息学分析表明AsZIP2基因编码339个氨基酸;预测的AsZIP2蛋白质含有保守的ZIP结构域并由9个跨膜结构域构成;序列比对与系统进化分析表明AsZIP2与蒺藜苜蓿及日本百脉根的Zn转运蛋白ZIP2的亲缘关系密切。利用RT-PCR与定量PCR方法检测紫云英AsZIP2基因在丛枝菌根中的表达,结果显示AM真菌的侵染强烈地抑制AsZIP2的表达。与已知的Mt ZIP2基因一致,施加Zn会诱导AsZIP2的表达。有趣地是,在低磷条件下,AsZIP2在根中的表达显著地增强。研究结果表明,AM真菌,Zn或Pi水平均影响Zn转运基因AsZIP2在根中的表达水平。对AsZIP2基因在分子特征与表达谱方面的初步研究将有利于进一步功能性鉴定该基因参与植物生长和发育。     

Drosophila fear of intimacy encodes a Zrt/IRT-like protein (ZIP) family zinc transporter functionally related to mammalian ZIP proteins

Zinc is essential for many cellular processes, and its concentration in the cell must be tightly controlled. The Zrt/IRT-like protein (ZIP) family of zinc transporters have recently been identified as the main regulators of zinc influx into the cytoplasm; however, little is known about their in vivo roles. Previously, we have shown that fear of intimacy (foi) encodes a putative member of the ZIP family that is essential for development in Drosophila. Here we demonstrate that FOI can act as an ion transporter in both yeast and mammalian cell assays and is specific for zinc. We also provide insight into the mechanism of action of the ZIP family through membrane topology and structure-function analyses of FOI. Our work demonstrates that Drosophila FOI is closely related to mammalian ZIP proteins at the functional level and that Drosophila represents an ideal system for understanding the in vivo roles of this family. In addition, this work indicates that the control of zinc by ZIP transporters may play a critical role in regulating developmental processes.     

Association between ZIP10 gene expression and tumor aggressiveness in renal cell carcinoma

Zinc is an indispensable trace element which is vital for the functioning of numerous cellular processes like cell replication and growth. Cellular zinc homeostasis is tightly regulated by zinc transporters involved in zinc influx and efflux processes. Notwithstanding, the association of zinc transporters with the aggressiveness of cancer, especially renal cell carcinoma (RCC), is unknown. In view of the fact, the present study was initiated to ascertain whether ZIP10 transporter expression is modulated during RCC progression. A total of 57 samples of RCC and corresponding normal renal tissue were analyzed for ZIP10 gene expression by real time PCR. We observed significantly higher expression of ZIP10 mRNA (P = 0.002) in high grade clear cell RCC tissue (Grades III & IV) as compared to low grade clear cell RCC tissue (Grades I & II). A significant difference was also observed in the ZIP10 expression in different types of RCC (P = 0.001). This is the first study which shows a significant correlation between ZIP10 mRNA expressions with aggressiveness of RCC. Therefore, ZIP10 mRNA expression could be used as a possible biomarker for the aggressive behavior of RCC and a promising target of novel treatment strategies.     

Influence of DNA-methylation on zinc homeostasis in myeloid cells: Regulation of zinc transporters and zinc binding proteins

The distribution of intracellular zinc, predominantly regulated through zinc transporters and zinc binding proteins, is required to support an efficient immune response. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation are involved in the expression of these genes. In demethylation experiments using 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (AZA) increased intracellular (after 24 and 48 h) and total cellular zinc levels (after 48 h) were observed in the myeloid cell line HL-60. To uncover the mechanisms that cause the disturbed zinc homeostasis after DNA demethylation, the expression of human zinc transporters and zinc binding proteins were investigated. Real time PCR analyses of 14 ZIP (solute-linked carrier (SLC) SLC39A; Zrt/IRT-like protein), and 9 ZnT (SLC30A) zinc transporters revealed significantly enhanced mRNA expression of the zinc importer ZIP1 after AZA treatment. Because ZIP1 protein was also enhanced after AZA treatment, ZIP1 up-regulation might be the mediator of enhanced intracellular zinc levels. The mRNA expression of ZIP14 was decreased, whereas zinc exporter ZnT3 mRNA was also significantly increased; which might be a cellular reaction to compensate elevated zinc levels. An enhanced but not significant chromatin accessibility of ZIP1 promoter region I was detected by chromatin accessibility by real-time PCR (CHART) assays after demethylation. Additionally, DNA demethylation resulted in increased mRNA accumulation of zinc binding proteins metallothionein (MT) and S100A8/S100A9 after 48 h. MT mRNA was significantly enhanced after 24 h of AZA treatment also suggesting a reaction of the cell to restore zinc homeostasis. These data indicate that DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism affecting zinc binding proteins and transporters, and, therefore, regulating zinc homeostasis in myeloid cells.     

A role for ZnT-1 in regulating cellular cation influx

The ZnTs are a growing family of proteins involved in lowering or sequestration of cellular zinc. Using fluorescent measurements of zinc transport we have addressed the mechanism of action of the most ubiquitously expressed member of this family, ZnT-1. This protein has been shown to lower levels of intracellular zinc though the mechanism has remained elusive. The rate of zinc efflux in HEK293 cells expressing ZnT-1 was not accelerated in comparison to control cells, suggesting that ZnT-1 may be involved in regulating influx rather than efflux of zinc. Co-expression of the L-type calcium channel, a major route for zinc influx, and ZnT-1 resulted in a 3-fold reduction in the rate of zinc influx in HEK293 and PC-12 cells, indicating that ZnT-1 modulates zinc permeation through this channel. Immunoblot analysis indicates that ZnT-1 expression does not modulate LTCC expression. Our findings therefore indicate that ZnT-1 modulates the permeation of cations through LTCC, thereby, regulating cation homeostasis through this pathway. Furthermore, ZnT-1 may play a role in cellular ion homeostasis and thereby confer protection against pathophysiological events linked to cellular Ca(2+) or Zn(2+) permeation and cell death.     

ZnT5 variant B is a bidirectional zinc transporter and mediates zinc uptake in human intestinal Caco-2 cells

Zinc is an essential micronutrient, so it is important to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of zinc homeostasis, including the functional properties of zinc transporters. Mammalian zinc transporters are classified in two major families: the SLC30 (ZnT) family and the SLC39 family. The prevailing view is that SLC30 family transporters function to reduce cytosolic zinc concentration, either through efflux across the plasma membrane or through sequestration in intracellular compartments, and that SLC39 family transporters function in the opposite direction to increase cytosolic zinc concentration. We demonstrated that human ZnT5 variant B (ZnT5B (hZTL1)), an isoform expressed at the plasma membrane, operates in both the uptake and the efflux directions when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. We measured increased activity of the zinc-responsive metallothionein 2a (MT2a) promoter when ZnT5b was co-expressed with an MT2a promoter-reporter plasmid construct in human intestinal Caco-2 cells, indicating increased total intracellular zinc concentration. Increased cytoplasmic zinc concentration mediated by ZnT5B, in the absence of effects on intracellular zinc sequestration by the Golgi apparatus or endoplasmic reticulum, was also confirmed by a dramatically enhanced signal from the zinc fluorophore Rhodzin-3 throughout the cytoplasm of Caco-2 cells overexpressing ZnT5B at the plasma membrane when compared with control cells. Our findings demonstrate clearly that, in addition to mediating zinc efflux, ZnT5B at the plasma membrane can function to increase cytoplasmic zinc concentration, thus indicating a need to reevaluate the current paradigm that SLC30 family zinc transporters operate exclusively to decrease cytosolic zinc concentration.