Research Themes
As the second most abundant trace element in the human body, the essential mineral zinc is required for many proteins involved in DNA and protein synthesis, mitosis and cell division serving both a structural and catalytic role. Participation in such diverse cellular processes highlights the need to tightly regulate zinc homeostasis. Central to this regulation is the activity of numerous zinc-specific transport proteins which are responsible for controlling zinc uptake, efflux and intracellular trafficking between sub-cellular compartments. These proteins are divided into two distinct families. In mammals, members of the ZnT family (ZnT1-10) function to transport zinc from the cytoplasm, either across the plasma membrane or into intracellular vesicles while the Zip family (Zip1-14) of zinc transporters facilitate cellular zinc uptake into the cytoplasm. Our laboratory explores how members of these two families are regulated by nutritional, environmental and hormonal factors in highly specialized reproductive tissues in mammals. To do this we utilize molecular, cellular and biochemical methodologies with the aim of integrating genetics, cell biology, physiology and endocrinology to elucidate the transcriptional, translational and post-translational mechanisms that regulate zinc transport mechanisms using rodent and cultured cell models. As it is becoming increasingly apparent that both maternal nutrition and environmental exposure plays a determinant role in pregnancy outcome as well as the long-term health of the offspring, the importance of optimizing maternal health during these susceptible periods is of great interest.
Numerous zinc transporters participate in the regulation
of zinc import, sequestration and export in mammary cells.
Placenta
Zinc Trafficking in the Placenta