SLC39A7

Zinc transporter SLC39A7 (ZIP7) also known as solute carrier family 39 member 7 (SLC39A7) is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC39A7 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
is_associated_with::Zinc is an essential cofactor for more than 50 classes of is_associated_with::enzymes. It is involved in protein, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, as well as in the control of is_associated_with::gene transcription, growth, development, and differentiation. Zinc cannot passively diffuse across cell membranes and requires specific transporters, such as SLC39A7, to enter the is_associated_with::cytosol from both the extracellular environment and from intracellular storage compartments.

ZIP7 is a is_associated_with::membrane transport protein of the is_associated_with::endoplasmic reticulum. Phosphorylation of ZIP7 by is_associated_with::casein kinase 2 stimulates the release of is_associated_with::zinc ions from the endoplasmic reticulum This provides a is_associated_with::signal transduction pathway by which activation of cell surface receptors such as the is_associated_with::epidermal growth factor receptor can regulate the activity of downstream is_associated_with::phosphatases and is_associated_with::kinases.