ZnT3 is a member of the SLC30 family of zinc transporters which promotes the influx of zinc ions into synaptic vesicles of glutamatergic neurons from the cytoplasm, intracellular organelles, or to the outside of the cell. It is responsible for maintaining high intravesicular zinc content.

ZnT3 is encoded by the Slc30a3 gene and is selectively located on the vesicles of zinc-secreting neurons. ZnT3 is also present in regions of the brain such as the hippocampus and neocortex¹. Ionic zinc is found ubiquitously throughout synapses of the mammalian central nervous system, where it plays fundamental roles in synaptic function and plasticity²_.

ZnT3 structure is predicted to contain six transmembrane spanning domains that form a pore lined with a histidine-rich loop³.

Knockout of ZnT3 leads to the absence of histochemically reactive zinc in the terminals of zincergic neurons. A loss of ZnT3 might lead to disturbances in brain functions such as memory function, emotions, behavior, motivation, and in the processing of sensory information^3,4. Studies have shown that genetic absence of ZnT3 may be involved in the synaptic and memory deficits of Alzheimer's disease¹. Another study showed that a knockout mouse has a tendency for seizure⁵.