Researchers use Functional Imaging to Elucidate the Role of Cellular Zn²⁺ in Human Immunity

An international consortium of researchers has found a new mutation in a gene harboring a reticulum-to-cytoplasm zinc transporter. The gene is called ZIP7 and it is responsible for the early onset of infections in patients.

These findings led them to uncover the role of ZIP7 in B cell development. To elucidate the cellular function of ZIP7, researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis to recreate the observed mutations in mice. They then studied primary cells with functional imaging and zinc biosensors to corroborate the mutations and see how cells handle zinc.