Background of the antigen
Zinc is an essential cofactor that is involved in cell growth and development, as well as in protein, nucleic acid and lipid metabolism. The transport of zinc across the cell membrane is crucial for correct enzyme and overall cell function. SLC39A11 (solute carrier family 39 (metal ion transporter), member 11), also known as ZIP11 (Zrt- and Irt-like protein 11), is a 342 amino acid multi-pass membrane protein belonging to the ZIP transporter family. Expressed as multiple alternatively spliced isoforms, SLC39A11 acts as a zinc-influx transporter and is encoded by a gene located on human chromosome 17, which comprises over 2.5% of the human genome and encodes over 1,200 genes, some of which are involved in tumor suppression and in the pathogenesis of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, early onset breast cancer and a predisposition to cancers of the ovary, colon, prostate gland and fallopian tubes.
