Plays a pivotal role in manganese transport. Manganese is an essential cation for the function of several enzymes, including some crucially important for the metabolism of neurotransmitters and other neuronal metabolic pathways. However, elevated levels of manganese are cytotoxic and induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Acts as manganese efflux transporter and confers protection against manganese-induced cell death (PubMed:22341972, PubMed:22341971, PubMed:25319704, PubMed:27226609, PubMed:27307044). Also acts as zinc transporter involved in zinc homeostasis. Seems to mediate zinc transport into early endosomes and recycling endosomes to prevent zinc toxicity; the function may be regulated by heterodimerization with other zinc transporters of the SLC30A subfamily. The SLC30A3:SLC30A10 heterodimer is involved in zinc transport-dependent regulation of the EGFR/ERK transduction pathway in endosomes. May be involved in regulation of zinc-dependent senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells (PubMed:22706290, PubMed:22427991, PubMed:26728129). Forms homodimers. Forms heterodimers and high-molecular weight oligomers with SLC30A3, SLC30A2 and SLC30A4; heterodimerization is mediated by covalent-bound tyrosine residues and occurs probably in a tissue-specific manner. Relocalized from the trans-Golgi network to the plasma membrane upon elevated extracellular Zn concentrations (PubMed:22706290). Specifically expressed in fetal liver and fetal brain (PubMed:15154973). Expressed in adult tissues with relative levels small intestine > liver > testes > brain > ovary > colon > cervix > prostate > placenta (PubMed:22706290). Down-regulated by ZNF658 in response to zinc. Down-regulated by angiotensin-2. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. May be produced at very low levels due to a premature stop codon in the mRNA, leading to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Belongs to the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) transporter (TC 2.A.4) family. SLC30A subfamily. Contaminating sequence. Sequence of unknown origin in position 427.