We have demonstrated this by using several complementary heterologous experimental models: human prostate cancer vs normal prostate cells in culture, Xenopus oocytes ex vivo, stably-expressing shRNA-targeted ZIP8 knockdown cells, stably-transfected high-ZIP8-expressing mouse embryo fibroblasts (ZIP8-MEFs) versus low-ZIP8-expressing LUC-MEFs, wild-type (WT) red blood cells (RBCs) ex vivo, and WT mice, as well as the ZIP8-overexpressing mouse (BTZIP8-3) and the ZIP8 hypomorphic knock-down Slc39a8(+/neo) mouse. The gene discussed is SLC39A8; the disease is Familial prostate cancer.