Metal ions are essential elements that participate in many different biological processes and therefore their homeostasis is crucial for life. These ions are utilized in oxygen transfer, catalysis, macromolecule stability, gene expression and cell signaling. The homeostasis of metal ions in cells dictated using a specific set of transporters responsible for maintaining their appropriate concentration¹.  

SLC39A14 (ZIP14) is a member of the the Zrt – and – Irt like family (ZIP) a large family of metal ion transporters that can be found in organisms across all kingdoms of life. ZIP14 function as a transporter of zinc, iron, manganese and cadmium across cellular membranes².

According to ZIP14 predicted structure it consists of 8 transmembrane domains (TMDs), extracellular N-terminus and C-terminus and several histidine reach repeats. Structural studies of ZIP14 using SDS-PAGE analysis under nonreducing conditions was show that ZIP14 undergoes trimerization³.

Human ZIP14 mRNA was detected in the liver, pancreases, thyroid and in the heart. In addition, mouse mRNA was also detected in the kidney, white adipose tissue (WAT), skeletal muscle and spleen. Mutations in gene encoding ZIP14 leads to manganese toxicity and early-onset dystonia in humans, highlighting ZIP14 important role in manganese homeostasis⁴.