Zinc-activated ion channel

Zinc-activated ion channel (ZAC), is a human is_associated_with::protein encoded by the is_associated_with::gene. ZAC forms a cation-permeable is_associated_with::ligand-gated ion channel of the "Cys-loop" superfamily. The ZAC gene is present in humans and dogs, but no ortholog is thought to exist in the rat or mouse genomes.

ZAC mRNA is expressed in prostate, thyroid, trachea, lung, brain (adult and fetal), spinal cord, skeletal muscle, heart, placenta, pancreas, liver, kidney and stomach. The endogenous is_associated_with::ligand for ZAC is thought to be Zn2+, although ZAC has also been found to activate spontaneously. The function of spontaneous ZAC activation is unknown.