The Role of Zinc Transporters in Brain Function

Eva Stanley*, Benjamin Mendelson, and Abbey Manning
Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation No.: 98

Assigned Category (Presentation Format): Neuroscience (Poster Presentations)

Student’s Major: Biology B.S.

Zinc is an essential element for life, and deficiencies are associated with many health issues. Free zinc ions are involved in signaling and are released through transporters by certain cells, including neurons. One category of zinc transporters is Zrt-, Irt-related proteins (ZIP) which play a role in neurotransmission. ZIP12 is one of these proteins and is highly expressed within the brain. It is hypothesized that ZIP12 is involved in removing zinc from the synaptic cleft into astrocytes. Astrocytes are glial cells that support signaling and express ZIP12. While we know that zinc is co-released with glutamate, the clearance of zinc is completely unknown, and the relationship between ZIP12 and astrocytes may explain this. Using high-resolution microscopy, we have for the first time localized ZIP12 protein expression to determine how ZIP12 proteins relate to astrocytes. A high concentration of ZIP12 near astrocytes supports the hypothesis that ZIP12 moves zinc into astrocytes, which leads to a better understanding of the role this protein has in brain functioning.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: Other