AUTHOR=Sabouri Soheila , Rostamirad Marzieh , Dempski Robert E. TITLE=Unlocking the brain’s zinc code: implications for cognitive function and disease JOURNAL=Frontiers in Biophysics VOLUME=2 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/biophysics/articles/10.3389/frbis.2024.1406868 DOI=10.3389/frbis.2024.1406868 ISSN=2813-7183 ABSTRACT=

Zn2+ transport across neuronal membranes relies on two classes of transition metal transporters: the ZnT (SLC30) and ZIP (SLC39) families. These proteins function to decrease and increase cytosolic Zn2+ levels, respectively. Dysfunction of ZnT and ZIP transporters can alter intracellular Zn2+ levels resulting in deleterious effects. In neurons, imbalances in Zn2+ levels have been implicated as risk factors in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration, highlighting the pivotal role of Zn2+ homeostasis in neuropathologies. In addition, Zn2+ modulates the function of plasma membrane proteins, including ion channels and receptors. Changes in Zn2+ levels, on both sides of the plasma membrane, profoundly impact signaling pathways governing cell development, differentiation, and survival. This review is focused on recent developments of neuronal Zn2+ homeostasis, including the impact of Zn2+ dyshomeostasis in neurological disorders, therapeutic approaches, and the increasingly recognized role of Zn2+ as a neurotransmitter in the brain.