Post-translational mechanisms of zinc signalling in cancer

Three groups of proteins are actively involved in the control of intracellular zinc, consisting of ZIP channels (SLC39A), ZnT transporters (SLC30A), and metallothioneins. Malfunctions of many zinc transport proteins, especially those belonging to the ZIP family which increase cytosolic zinc availability, have been associated with cancer. Importantly, post-translational modifications have been reported to play an increasing role in the functional control of ZIP channels. In this chapter, we therefore detail the established role of zinc signalling in cancer, with an emphasis on breast cancer, as well as demonstrate effects of post-translational modifications by phosphorylation and proteolytic cleavage