Molecular and cell biological studies of mammalian zinc transporters

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Zinc is an essential trace element in all organisms. The importance of the hZIP4 human zinc transporter is highlighted by its causative role in a genetic disease of zinc deficiency, acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE). The overall goal of my project is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of hZIP4 post-translational regulation. The abundance of hZIP4 on the plasma membrane is dependent on zinc availability, and hZIP4 undergoes zinc-stimulated endocytosis. More importantly, an additional level of hZIP4 post-translational regulation was identified, which involves ubiquitination and degradation of this protein by elevated zinc treatments. Furthermore, endocytosis is a prerequisite for its degradation requiring both proteasomes and lysosomes. One characteristic feature of many ZIP proteins is the intracellular histidine-rich region between transmembrane domains 3 and 4. The essentiality of the histidine-rich segment for ubiquitin-mediated degradation of hZIP4 was demonstrated. It functions to prevent cell toxicity from zinc overload. Furthermore, a cytosolic lysine residue is solely responsible for hZIP4 ubiquitination. However, mutation of this lysine does not interfere with zinc-stimulated hZIP4 degradation, suggesting the existence of alternative degradation pathways independent of ubiquitination. The implication that hZIP4 has multiple degradation pathways may provide a precise system regulating hZIP4 protein levels to avoid zinc overload, accounting for the essential role of hZIP4 in achieving zinc homeostasis.