Skip to main content
Fig. 3 | Genes & Nutrition

Fig. 3

From: Zinc-induced upregulation of metallothionein (MT)-2A is predicted by gene expression of zinc transporters in healthy adults

Fig. 3

Schematic showing hypothesised regulation of MT-2A gene expression by zinc.(1) Increased extracellular zinc is transported into the cell by the cellular zinc importer, ZIP1. (2) Higher concentration of intracellular zinc can activate transcription factor, MTF-1. (3) Zinc ions also can indirectly modulate the coactivator, C/EBPα, through the PI3K–Akt signalling pathway. (4) Activated MTF-1 and C/EBPα can translocate into the nucleus, binding to the promoter region of MT-2A gene, upregulating gene transcription. (5) Upregulation of gene expression can eventuate in increased MT-2A protein. (6) Higher concentration of MT serves to sequester intracellular zinc, thereby creating a negative feedback signal within the cell. PTP-1 protein tyrosine phosphatase-1β, PI3K phosphoinositide 3-kinase, GSK-3 glycogen synthase kinase-3, C/EBPα CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α, MTF-1 metal-regulatory transcription factor-1, MRE metal-responsive element

Back to article page