How is zinc transported?

In eukaryotes, zinc is transported by two distinct but interacting classes of proteins called zinc transporters – the ZIP family and the ZnT family. 

• The ZIP family of zinc transporters transport zinc from the intracellular space into the cytoplasm. 
• The ZnT family of zinc transporters transport export zinc ions from a cytoplasm into the lumen of intracellular organelles or to the outside of the cell. 

The ZIP proteins and ZnT proteins work in opposition to each other transporting zinc from the extracellular space into the cytoplasm thereby maintaining zinc homeostasis.

In bacteria, zinc is transported by ABC transporters, RND transporters, and the CorA proteins.