Zinc-influx transporter which plays a role in zinc homeostasis and in the induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) (PubMed:12839489, PubMed:18272141, PubMed:21422171, PubMed:23919497, PubMed:27274087, PubMed:34394081). When associated with SLC39A10, the heterodimer formed by SLC39A10 and SLC39A6 mediates cellular zinc uptake to trigger cells to undergo epithelial- to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) (PubMed:27274087). The SLC39A10-SLC39A6 heterodimer also controls NCAM1 phosphorylation and its integration into focal adhesion complexes during EMT (By similarity). Zinc influx inactivates GSK3B, enabling unphosphorylated SNAI1 in the nucleus to down-regulate adherence genes such as CDH1, causing loss of cell adherence (PubMed:23919497). In addition, the SLC39A10-SLC39A6 heterodimer plays an essentiel role in initiating mitosis by importing zinc into cells to initiate a pathway resulting in the onset of mitosis (PubMed:32797246). Participates in the T-cell receptor signaling regulation by mediating cellular zinc uptake into activated lymphocytes (PubMed:21422171, PubMed:30552163, PubMed:34394081). Regulates the zinc influx necessary for proper meiotic progression to metaphase II (MII) that allows the oocyte-to-egg transition (PubMed:25143461).
