Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(2), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19020439
The Zinc Sensing Receptor, ZnR/GPR39, in Health and Disease
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology and The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, POB 653, Ben-Gurion Ave. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
Received: 7 January 2018 / Revised: 24 January 2018 / Accepted: 29 January 2018 / Published: 1 February 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc Signaling in Physiology and Pathogenesis)
Abstract
A distinct G-protein coupled receptor that senses changes in extracellular Zn2+, ZnR/GPR39, was found in cells from tissues in which Zn2+ plays a physiological role. Most prominently, ZnR/GPR39 activity was described in prostate cancer, skin keratinocytes, and colon epithelial cells, where zinc is essential for cell growth, wound closure, and barrier formation. ZnR/GPR39 activity was also described in neurons that are postsynaptic to vesicular Zn2+ release. Activation of ZnR/GPR39 triggers Gαq-dependent signaling and subsequent cellular pathways associated with cell growth and survival. Furthermore, ZnR/GPR39 was shown to regulate the activity of ion transport mechanisms that are essential for the physiological function of epithelial and neuronal cells. Thus, ZnR/GPR39 provides a unique target for therapeutically modifying the actions of zinc in a specific and selective manner. View Full-TextKeywords:
zinc; ZnR/GPR39; zinc signaling; neuron; keratinocyte; epithelium; intestine; colon; bone
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Hershfinkel, M. The Zinc Sensing Receptor, ZnR/GPR39, in Health and Disease. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 439.
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