Zrt

Zrt is an abbreviation commonly used in molecular biology to denote zinc-regulated transporter proteins, particularly members of the ZIP family of metal transporters known as Zrt-, Irt-like Proteins (ZIP). The term often appears in gene names such as ZRT1, ZRT2, and ZRT3 in yeast, and in discussions of related transporters in other organisms.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ZRT1 and ZRT2 encode plasma membrane transporters that import zinc from the extracellular environment. ZRT1 is a high-affinity transporter that functions primarily under zinc limitation, while ZRT2 is a lower-affinity transporter that operates when zinc is more available. ZRT3, by contrast, is a vacuolar transporter that mobilizes stored zinc from the vacuole to the cytosol during periods of deficiency. Expression of ZRT genes is regulated by the cell’s zinc status through a zinc-responsive transcription factor, such as Zap1 in yeast, which coordinates the metal homeostasis network.

Beyond yeast, the ZIP family is evolutionarily conserved across fungi, plants, and animals, with Zrt-like transporters capable of moving zinc and, in some cases, other divalent metals. The exact substrate range and regulatory mechanisms can vary between organisms and tissues, reflecting different physiological needs. Disturbances in zinc transporters can contribute to zinc imbalance, with implications for nutrition, cellular redox balance, and disease.

In summary, Zrt refers to zinc-regulated transporter proteins within the ZIP family, central to zinc uptake, storage mobilization, and homeostasis across diverse species.