The Critical Roles of Zinc: Beyond Impact on Myocardial Signaling.
10.4196/kjpp.2015.19.5.389
- Author:
Sung Ryul LEE
1
;
Su Jin NOH
;
Julius Ryan PRONTO
;
Yu Jeong JEONG
;
Hyoung Kyu KIM
;
In Sung SONG
;
Zhelong XU
;
Hyog Young KWON
;
Se Chan KANG
;
Eun Hwa SOHN
;
Kyung Soo KO
;
Byoung Doo RHEE
;
Nari KIM
;
Jin HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Cardiovascular and Metabolic disease Center, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Metallothionein;
Signal Transduction;
Zinc;
Zinc exporter;
Zinc importer
- MeSH:
Central Nervous System;
Heart;
Immune System;
Ion Channels;
Mammary Glands, Human;
Metabolism;
Metallothionein;
Oxidation-Reduction;
Pancreas;
Prostate;
Protein Conformation;
Signal Transduction;
Zinc*
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2015;19(5):389-399
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Zinc has been considered as a vital constituent of proteins, including enzymes. Mobile reactive zinc (Zn2+) is the key form of zinc involved in signal transductions, which are mainly driven by its binding to proteins or the release of zinc from proteins, possibly via a redox switch. There has been growing evidence of zinc's critical role in cell signaling, due to its flexible coordination geometry and rapid shifts in protein conformation to perform biological reactions. The importance and complexity of Zn2+ activity has been presumed to parallel the degree of calcium's participation in cellular processes. Whole body and cellular Zn2+ levels are largely regulated by metallothioneins (MTs), Zn2+ importers (ZIPs), and Zn2+ transporters (ZnTs). Numerous proteins involved in signaling pathways, mitochondrial metabolism, and ion channels that play a pivotal role in controlling cardiac contractility are common targets of Zn2+. However, these regulatory actions of Zn2+ are not limited to the function of the heart, but also extend to numerous other organ systems, such as the central nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular tissue, and secretory glands, such as the pancreas, prostate, and mammary glands. In this review, the regulation of cellular Zn2+ levels, Zn2+-mediated signal transduction, impacts of Zn2+ on ion channels and mitochondrial metabolism, and finally, the implications of Zn2+ in health and disease development were outlined to help widen the current understanding of the versatile and complex roles of Zn2+.
