Analysis of zinc transporter, hZnT4 (SIc30A4), gene expression in a mammary gland disorder leading to reduced zinc secretion into milk

Abstract

Zinc deficiency, causing impaired growth and development, may have a nutritional or genetic basis. We investigated two cases ofinherited zinc deficiency found in breast-fed neonates, caused by low levels of zinc in the maternal milk. This condition is different from acrodermatitis enteropathica but has similarities to the "lethal milk" mouse, where low levels of zinc in the milk of lactating dams leads to zinc deficiency in pups. The mouse disorder has been attributed to a defect in the ZnT4 gene. Little is known about the expression of the human orthologue, hZnT4 (Slc30A4). Sequence analysis of cDNA, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis of hZnT4, carried out on control cells and cells fr..