ZACN (zinc activated ion channel) encodes a ligand-gated cation channel that facilitates the movement of sodium and potassium ions across cell membranes when activated by zinc (Zn2+), copper (Cu2+), and pH changes 1. The channel may also transport cesium and exhibits evolutionary conservation across mammalian species, suggesting physiological importance 1. ZACN functions as a homomeric cation-selective channel with robust responses to zinc (10 mM) and acidic pH (4.0) 1. The gene shows tissue-specific expression patterns and has been implicated in various pathological conditions. In cancer contexts, ZACN expression is altered in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, where it serves as a hub protein in protein-protein interaction networks 2. In kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, high ZACN expression correlates with poor prognosis and promotes cell proliferation by inhibiting alkaliptosis, a specific form of cell death 3. Additionally, ZACN is involved in vocal fold responses to dehydration, being upregulated during surface dehydration challenges 4. Clinical significance includes its potential as a prognostic biomarker in renal cancer and its involvement in fusion-negative phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors through FN1::ZACN fusion events 5.