Zinc is an essential cofactor that is involved in cell growth and development, as well as in protein, nucleic acid and lipid metabolism. The transport of zinc across the cell membrane is crucial for correct enzyme and overall cell function. ZIP7, also known as SLC39A7 (solute carrier family 39 (zinc transporter), member 7), KE4, HKE4, RING5 or H2-KE4, is a 469 amino acid multi-pass membrane protein that belongs to the ZIP transporter family. Expressed at high levels in kidney, placenta, pancreas and lung, ZIP7 functions as a zinc transporter that facilitates the movement of zinc, both from the extracellular environment and from intracellular storage compartments, to the cytosol. The gene encoding ZIP7 maps to human chromosome 6, which contains 170 million base pairs and comprises nearly 6% of the human genome.