LIV-1 (also known as SLC39A6 or ZIP6) belongs to the zinc transporter protein SLC39A family, which consists of 14 family members divided into four subfamilies: ZIP-I (ZIP9), ZIP-II (ZIP1-3), gufA (ZIP11), and LIV-1 (ZIP4-8, ZIP10, ZIP12-14). All SLC39A transporter proteins have 5 to 8 transmembrane domains and function in zinc ion transport.
SLC39A6 has been shown to promote the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor Snail, a inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), recognized as a downstream target of the STAT3 pathway in zebrafish gastrula tissues. Based on structural similarity, SLC39A6 may act as a zinc influx transporter protein. Studies demonstrate that SLC39A6 is induced by histone deacetylase inhibitors in tumors, playing a role in apoptotic cell death induced by histone deacetylase inhibitors. SLC39A6 is also considered a key mediator for the survival of breast cancer cells under high glucose conditions.
