Figure 1.

Multiple mechanisms for zinc uptake following synaptic release. Zinc and glutamate are released from a “gluzincergic” synapse during neurotransmission. The actions of glutamate, alongside membrane depolarisation, open a number of zinc-permeable channels on the postsynaptic membrane which clear the ion from the extracellular fluid. (1) AMPA receptors; (2) NMDA receptors; (3) voltage-gated calcium channels; (4) TRPM7. (blue pentagons) zinc ion and (green ellipses) glutamate molecule. For simplicity, zinc-permeable channels are only shown on the post-synaptic membrane.