SLC39A9: Zinc Transporter and Cellular Signaling Regulator
Comprehensive genomic and functional analysis of SLC39A9 (ZIP9), a member of the zinc transporter family involved in zinc homeostasis and endocrine signaling.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | SLC39A9 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Solute Carrier Family 39 Member 9 |
| Gene Type | Protein coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 14q24.1 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 55334 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/55334 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000100823 |
| UniProt ID | Q9NUM3 |
| OMIM ID | 608734 |
| HGNC ID | 17107 |
| Aliases | ZIP9, LZT-Hs9, FLJ13163 |
Description
SLC39A9 (Solute Carrier Family 39 Member 9) encodes a member of the ZIP (Zrt- and Irt-like protein) family of zinc transporters. The encoded protein, ZIP9, functions as a zinc importer that transports zinc from the extracellular space or intracellular vesicles into the cytoplasm, thereby regulating cellular zinc homeostasis. ZIP9 has also been characterized as a membrane androgen receptor (mAR) that mediates non-genomic androgen signaling, particularly in prostate cancer cells. It is ubiquitously expressed with higher levels in testis, prostate, and breast tissue. Dysregulation of SLC39A9 expression has been implicated in prostate cancer, breast cancer, and other malignancies.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Prostate Cancer | ZIP9 acts as a membrane androgen receptor; altered expression may influence androgen-dependent signaling and tumor progression. | PMID: 24692543; PMID: 29374062 |
| Breast Cancer | ZIP9 expression is associated with zinc homeostasis and may affect cell proliferation. | PMID: 28431222 |
| Zinc Deficiency Disorders | Impaired zinc import due to SLC39A9 variants could contribute to systemic zinc deficiency. | PMID: 24120362 |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Testis | 12.5 | Medium |
| Prostate | 10.2 | Medium |
| Breast | 8.7 | Medium |
| Liver | 6.3 | Low |
| Kidney | 5.1 | Low |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PC-3 (prostate cancer) | 15.3 | High expression |
| MCF-7 (breast cancer) | 11.8 | Medium expression |
| HEK293 (embryonic kidney) | 7.2 | Low expression |
| HepG2 (liver cancer) | 5.9 | Low expression |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.112G>A (p.Gly38Arg) | Missense | <0.01% | Unknown; predicted benign |
| c.454C>T (p.Arg152Trp) | Missense | <0.01% | Unknown; predicted possibly damaging |
| c.789_790insA (p.Glu264Argfs*12) | Frameshift | <0.01% | Loss of function |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Frameshift mutations (e.g., p.Glu264Argfs*12) are predicted to cause premature truncation and loss of zinc transport activity.
Gain of Function (GOF)
No gain-of-function mutations have been reported in SLC39A9.
Dominant Negative (DN)
No dominant-negative mutations have been characterized for SLC39A9.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • zinc ion transmembrane transporter activity (GO:0005385) | • cytoplasm (GO:0005737) |
| • plasma membrane (GO:0005886) | • ion transport (GO:0006811) |
| • zinc ion transport (GO:0006829) | • integral component of membrane (GO:0016021) |
| • metal ion transport (GO:0030001) | • cellular response to zinc ion (GO:0071294) |
Pathways
• Zinc homeostasis
• Androgen receptor signaling (non-genomic)
Protein Summary
ZIP9 is a 307-amino acid protein with eight transmembrane domains, belonging to the ZIP family. It localizes to the plasma membrane and intracellular vesicles, functioning as a zinc importer. Additionally, ZIP9 acts as a membrane androgen receptor (mAR) that binds testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, activating G-protein-coupled signaling pathways (e.g., MAPK/ERK) independent of the classical nuclear androgen receptor. This dual role links zinc transport to rapid androgen signaling, with implications in prostate cancer biology.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLC39A9 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ12162 | Human | 55334 | Details Get a Quote |
| SLC39A9 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ39616 | Human | 55334 | Details Get a Quote |
| SLC39A9 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ40862 | Human | 55334 | Details Get a Quote |
| SLC39A9 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ40863 | Human | 55334 | Details Get a Quote |
