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Li ZIP 3 is a cellular zinc transporter that mediates the tightly regulated import of zinc in L eishmania infantum parasites
Author(s) -
Carvalho Sandra,
Barreira da Silva Rosa,
Shawki Ali,
Castro Helena,
Lamy Márcia,
Eide David,
Costa Vítor,
Mackenzie Bryan,
Tomás Ana M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.12957
Subject(s) - zinc , biology , transporter , homeostasis , biochemistry , intracellular , zinc finger , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , gene , transcription factor , organic chemistry
Summary Cellular zinc homeostasis ensures that the intracellular concentration of this element is kept within limits that enable its participation in critical physiological processes without exerting toxic effects. We report here the identification and characterization of the first mediator of zinc homeostasis in L eishmania infantum , Li ZIP 3, a member of the ZIP family of divalent metal‐ion transporters. The zinc transporter activity of Li ZIP 3 was first disclosed by its capacity to rescue the growth of S accharomyces cerevisiae strains deficient in zinc acquisition. Subsequent expression of Li ZIP 3 in X enopus laevis oocytes was shown to stimulate the uptake of a broad range of metal ions, among which Zn 2+ was the preferred Li ZIP 3 substrate ( K 0.5 ≈ 0.1 μM). Evidence that Li ZIP 3 functions as a zinc importer in L . infantum came from the observations that the protein locates to the cell membrane and that its overexpression leads to augmented zinc internalization. Importantly, expression and cell‐surface location of Li ZIP 3 are lost when parasites face high zinc bioavailability. Li ZIP 3 decline in response to zinc is regulated at the mRNA level in a process involving (a) short‐lived protein(s). Collectively, our data reveal that Li ZIP 3 enables L. infantum to acquire zinc in a highly regulated manner, hence contributing to zinc homeostasis.