Zinc is one of the essential nutrients, necessary for sustaining life. Many proteins contain zinc prosthetic groups that are important in the protein's biological activity. The zinc ion is also crucial for stability of zinc-finger protein domains where absence of the metal ion causes the domain to unfold. Zinc fingers are therefore important in regulation because when interacting with DNA and zinc ion, they provide a unique structural motif for DNA-binding proteins. Some cell types in human body also secrete zinc ions and the role of this zinc signal is being studied.

Zinc deficiency, indicated by hair loss, skin lesions and diarrhoea, is caused by inadequate intake or absorption of zinc into the body and sometimes by congenital abnormalities affecting the metabolic uptake of zinc (like acrodermatitis enteropathica, also known as Brandt Syndrome). Zinc deficiency also causes a decrease in appetite which could degenerate into anorexia. Even though zinc is an essential element, it can be harmful in larger quantities: for example, excessive absorption of zinc can suppress absorption of other metals like copper and iron. The free zinc ions in solution are toxic for some organism in just micromolar amounts. Zinc ions are also secreted from granulocytes – a type of immune cells – which suggests that zinc is involved in immune system response.

We are trying to identify genes connected to zinc and zinc metabolism and determine the zinc effects on eukaryotic cell. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a suitable eukaryotic model organism due to regulation of zinc concentration in cytoplasm with active transport of zinc to vacuole storage and back. We will be monitoring cell response to excess levels of zinc in growth medium and response to complete lack of zinc. Cell response will be measured as cell growth rate and subsequent analyses should point out which genes, and therefore the pathways they belong to, are mostly affected by zinc.