Studying ZIP4-ECD is important for three main reasons: first, around half of the mutations that lead to the serious genetic disorder AE are found in this area 57; secondly, when there is a lack of zinc, ZIP4-ECD becomes separated from the complete protein indicating involvement in zinc regulation 58; thirdly, the structure of ZIP4-ECD has only been identified in the ZIP4 from the central brown bat 42. The gene discussed is TEX11; the disease is hereditary disease.