SLC30A2 (ZnT2) encodes a zinc transporter protein that functions as an electroneutral proton-coupled antiporter mediating zinc efflux from cells and zinc import into intracellular compartments including lysosomes, mitochondria, and secretory vesicles 1. The protein is critical for zinc homeostasis, with expression regulated by zinc availability through metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF-1) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB) proteins 2. SLC30A2 plays essential roles in Paneth cell function, affecting granule formation, secretion, and antimicrobial activity in the intestine 3. Loss-of-function mutations in SLC30A2 cause transient neonatal zinc deficiency (TNZD), an autosomal dominant condition where impaired zinc transport into breast milk leads to severe zinc deficiency in exclusively breastfed infants 4. TNZD presents with dermatitis, diarrhea, alopecia, and growth retardation, but responds rapidly to zinc supplementation 4. Genetic variants affecting SLC30A2 function are associated with altered gut microbiome composition, mucosal inflammation, and increased infection susceptibility 35. Recent studies suggest SLC30A2 may also play roles in cancer progression and cardiometabolic diseases through zinc homeostasis regulation 67.