{{.infobox .infobox-gene}}
| Symbol | SLC30A6 |
| Full Name | Solute Carrier Family 30 Member 6 |
| Chromosome | 12p13.31 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 28517 |
| OMIM | 607340 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000138401 |
| UniProt ID | Q6NXR1 |
| Associated Diseases | Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, neurodegeneration |
SLC30A6 (Solute Carrier Family 30 Member 6), also known as ZnT6 (Zinc Transporter 6), is a zinc efflux transporter belonging to the CDF (Cation Diffusion Facilitator) family.[1] This protein plays a crucial role in cellular zinc homeostasis by pumping zinc from the cytoplasm into intracellular vesicles or the extracellular space.
The ZnT family consists of 10 members (ZnT1-10), each with distinct tissue expression patterns and subcellular localizations. ZnT6 is primarily expressed in the brain and is localized to the Golgi apparatus and secretory vesicles, where it sequesters zinc into these compartments.[2] This localization is particularly relevant for neurons, where vesicular zinc serves important signaling functions.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Gene Symbol | SLC30A6 |
| Protein Name | Zinc transporter 6 (ZnT6) |
| Gene Family | SLC30 (CDF) family |
| Chromosomal Location | 12p13.31 |
| Gene ID (NCBI) | 28517 |
| Protein Length | 376 amino acids |
| UniProt ID | Q6NXR1 |
| Tissue Specificity | Brain, pancreas, testis |
ZnT6 contains six transmembrane domains with the N- and C-termini facing the cytoplasm. Like other ZnT proteins, it features a histidine-rich loop between transmembrane domains IV and V, which is thought to be involved in zinc binding and transport.
ZnT6 functions as a zinc efflux pump:
ZnT6 is primarily localized to:
ZnT6 has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology:
| Approach | Rationale | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ZnT6 agonists | Enhance zinc efflux | Research |
| ZnT6 antagonists | Block pathological zinc sequestration | Preclinical |
| Zinc modulators | Indirect modulation of ZnT6 activity | Investigational |
While no direct disease-causing mutations in SLC30A6 have been identified, polymorphisms and expression alterations are associated with:
Kambe et al. ZnT family (2015). 2015. ↩︎
Adlard et al. Zinc in Alzheimer's disease (2014). 2014. ↩︎