The expression of ZnuABC is regulated by the zinc uptake regulator (Zur) protein and is induced by conditions of zinc starvation. Because zinc is often a limiting factor in bacterial infections, some pathogenic bacteria are heavily dependent on ZnuABC to scavenge zinc from the environment in an animal host.[4]
The periplasmic protein ZnuA interacts with ZinT, another component of the regulon controlled by Zur, which is also involved in periplasmic zinc homeostasis.[4][5][6][7]
References
^Li H, Jogl G (May 2007). "Crystal structure of the zinc-binding transport protein ZnuA from Escherichia coli reveals an unexpected variation in metal coordination". Journal of Molecular Biology. 368 (5): 1358–66. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2007.02.107. PMID17399739.
^Patzer SI, Hantke K (June 1998). "The ZnuABC high-affinity zinc uptake system and its regulator Zur in Escherichia coli". Molecular Microbiology. 28 (6): 1199–210. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2958.1998.00883.x. PMID9680209.