ZRT And IRT Related Protein 1 (ZIP1)

The predicted 324-amino acid SLC39A1 protein contains 8 transmembrane domains, 9 possible N-myristylation sites, a potential protein kinase C phosphorylation site, and 4 potential protein kinase II phosphorylation sites. Human SLC39A1 shares 21 to 22% amino acid sequence identity with A. thaliana IRT1 and ZIP1 to ZIP4, Pisum sativum Rit1, and S. cerevisiae ZRT1 and ZRT2. The human and mouse SLC39A1 proteins are 90% similar. In the small intestine, Slc39a1 was found toward the base of the intestinal villi from E17.5. In the pancreas, Slc39a1 expression was found from E17.5. Slc39a1 expression was not detected in the liver. Slc39a1 was expressed in osteoblasts of developing bone from E15.5 and in ameloblasts and odontoblasts at late stages of tooth development at P21.