Plays an important role in cellular zinc homeostasis as a zinc transporter. Regulated in response to zinc availability (By similarity). Colocalized with TFRC in the recycling endosomes. Cycles between endosomal compartments and the plasma membrane in response to zinc availability. Highly expressed in kidney, small intestine, stomach, colon, jejunum and duodenum. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the ZIP transporter (TC 2.A.5) family.