Abstract
In recent years, the role of zinc in biological systems has been a subject of intense research. Despite wide increase in our knowledge and understanding of zinc homeostasis, numerous questions remain to be answered, encouraging further research. In particular, the quantification of intracellular zinc ions and fluctuation, as well as the function of zinc in signaling processes are being intensely investigated. The determination of free intracellular zinc ions is difficult and error-prone, as concentrations are extremely low (in the pico- to nanomolar range), but techniques exist involving fluorescent probes and sensors. In spite of zinc deficiency being accepted as a global problem, causing death and disease worldwide, to date there are no markers to reliably assess a person’s zinc status. This review summarizes the difficulties and major pitfalls when working with zinc in in vitro and in vivo research. Additionally, it specifies important aspects for zinc substitution and supplementation, including the bioavailability of zinc and its intestinal absorption. In particular, it is intended to help researchers with yet minor experience working with zinc efficiently set up experiments and avoid commonly occurring mistakes, starting with the choice and preparation of reagents and instrumentation, and concluding with possibilities for measuring the status of zinc in humans.
Highlights
Zinc is an essential trace element with an immense importance for human health
Zinc ions are indispensable for gene expression, enzymatic activity, and cell signaling [4], and for proliferation, DNA and RNA synthesis, and apoptosis [8]
TPEN showed significantly more intracellular zinc compared to the control cells, which might be the be the result of a previous upregulation of zinc importers due to zinc depletion
Summary
Zinc is an essential trace element with an immense importance for human health. The human body contains 2–4 g zinc in total, and the major part is found in the musculoskeletal system. Some hundred micromolar in total [3], is bound to cytosolic zinc-binding proteins, resulting in an estimated picomolar concentration of loosely bound, but exchangeable zinc ions [3,4,5]. Zinc ions are direct modulators of cell functions [9] as they participate in diverse signaling processes [10] They are mobilized from exocytotic vesicles, intracellular organelles or directly from zinc proteins [11]. Zinc ions are indispensable for gene expression, enzymatic activity, and cell signaling [4], and for proliferation, DNA and RNA synthesis, and apoptosis [8] Zinc deficiency, both acquired and inherited, leads to immunodeficiency, dermatitis, gastrointestinal problems, reduced wound healing, neurological and psychiatric disorders, growth impairment [12], and other pathological conditions. The following review will list some of the avoidable mistakes, and some problems, which are yet unsolved
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