Crystal structures of AztD provide mechanistic insights into direct zinc transfer between proteins.

Zinc acquisition from limited environments is critical for bacterial survival and pathogenesis. AztD has been identified as a periplasmic or cell surface zinc-binding protein in numerous bacterial species. In , AztD can transfer zinc directly to AztC, the solute binding protein for a zinc-specific ATP-binding cassette transporter system, suggesting a role in zinc acquisition and homeostasis.