SLC39A8

This gene encodes a member of the SLC39 family of solute-carrier genes, which show structural characteristics of zinc transporters. The encoded protein is glycosylated and found in the plasma membrane and mitochondria, and functions in the cellular import of zinc at the onset of inflammation. It is also thought to be the primary transporter of the toxic cation cadmium, which is found in cigarette smoke. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. Additional alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been described, but their full-length nature is not known. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2008]

本基因编码SLC39家族的溶质载体基因成员，该家族基因展现出锌转运蛋白的结构特征。编码的蛋白被糖基化，存在于质膜和线粒体中，并在炎症初发时参与细胞内锌的摄取。此外，该蛋白被认为是有毒阳离子镉（存在于香烟烟雾中）的主要转运蛋白。针对此基因，已发现多种转录变体，编码不同的异构体。此外，还描述了该基因的额外可变剪接转录变体，但其全长性质尚不明确。[由RefSeq提供，2008年10月]