• Zinc transporter ZIP6 is a 85 kDa protein in human encoded by the SLC39A6 (Solute Carrier Family 39 Member 6) gene. The SLC396/SLC39A10 heterodimer facilitates zinc influx, activating the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program through metalloregulated signaling pathways.
• The exons 2~10 of mouse Slc39a6 gene that encode the full-length protein were replaced by human SLC39A6 exons 2~10 in B-hLIV-1 mice. The promoter, 5’UTR and 3’UTR region of the mouse gene were also retained. The SLC39A6 expression was driven by endogenous mouse Slc39a6 promoter, while mouse Slc39a6 gene transcription and translation will be disrupted. 

Gene targeting strategy for B-hLIV-1 mice. 

The exons 2~10 of mouse Slc39a6 gene that encode the full-length protein were replaced by human SLC39A6 exons 2~10 in B-hLIV-1 mice. The promoter, 5’UTR and 3’UTR region of the mouse gene were also retained. The SLC39A6 expression was driven by endogenous mouse Slc39a6 promoter, while mouse Slc39a6 gene transcription and translation will be disrupted. 

Strain specific analysis of LIV-1 mRNA expression in wild-type C57BL/6 mice and B-hLIV-1 mice by RT-PCR. Cortex RNA were isolated from wild-type C57BL/6 mice (+/+) and homozygous B-hLIV-1 mice (H/H), then cDNA libraries were synthesized by reverse transcription, followed by PCR with mouse or human LIV-1 primers. Mouse Liv-1 mRNA was detectable in wild-type mice. Human LIV-1 mRNA was detectable only in homozygous B-hLIV-1 mice but not in wild-type mice.