Mobile Zinc as a Modulator of Sensory Perception.

Mobile zinc is an abundant transition metal ion in the central nervous system, with pools of the ion accumulating in regions of the brain engaged in sensory perception and memory formation. Here we present essential tools that we developed to interrogate the role(s) of zinc in these processes. Most important are (1) fluorescent sensors that report the presence of mobile zinc and (2) fast, Zn-selective chelating agents for measuring zinc flux in animal tissue and live animals. The results of our studies, conducted in collaboration with experts in these areas, are presented for sensory organs involved in hearing, smell, vision, and learning and memory. A general principle emerging from these studies is that the function of mobile zinc in all cases appears to be downregulation of the amplitude of the response following stimulation of the respective sensory organs. Possible consequences affecting human behavior are presented for future investigations in collaboration with behavioral scientists.