2006/06/23 by Robert J. Cousins, Juan P. Liuzzi, Louis A. Lichten · 4 citations
Nursing · Environmental Science · Medicine · #Trace Elements in Health #Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity #Iron Metabolism and Disorders
paper · pdf · doi:10.1074/jbc.r600011200
openalex publication_date 2006/06/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Structural, catalytic, and regulatory functions of zinc in biology continue to be defined. The number of genes coding for proteins with zinc-binding domains is conservatively estimated at >3% of the human genome but possibly is as much as 10% (1, 2). Zinc utilization in abundant, yet diverse, applications illustrates why organisms have evolved specific pathways to homeostatically regulate availability of this essential micronutrient at specific cellular sites through an array of transporters. Animals regulate zinc gain and loss efficiently.