Predicted to enable cadmium ion transmembrane transporter activity; iron ion transmembrane transporter activity; and manganese ion transmembrane transporter activity. Involved in several processes, including manganese ion homeostasis; negative regulation of cellular response to manganese ion; and response to manganese ion. Located in apical plasma membrane. Is expressed in several structures, including hermaphrodite gonad; hypodermis; intestine; nerve ring; and neurons. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in several diseases, including anemia (multiple); autoimmune disease (multiple); inflammatory bowel disease (multiple); leishmaniasis (multiple); and tuberculosis (multiple). Orthologous to human SLC11A1 (solute carrier family 11 member 1) and SLC11A2 (solute carrier family 11 member 2).
WB Description
smf-1 encodes one of three C. elegans divalent-metal ion transporters (DMTs) orthologous to the mammalian DMT1 transporters and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Smf proteins; in C. elegans, SMF-1 plays a minor role in manganese uptake, although mutations in smf-1 do display an increased tolerance to manganese exposure; SMF-1 is broadly expressed fromlate embryogenesis through adulthood, with strongest expression seen in the intestine and its associated gland cells; in epithelia, SMF-1 displays partially overlapping localization at the apical plasma membrane with SMF-3; smf-1 transcription is regulated in response to manganese; when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, smf-1 can rescue the EGTA hypersensitivity of Smf1+2 mutants.