Conservation at the protein level (~83.5% identity), similar postnatal expression (Dufner-Beattie et al., 2004), and preserved function between mouse and human orthologs suggest that Slc39a5-/- mice provide a valid model to explore the observed subthreshold T2D protective effect of SLC39A5 LOF alleles in humans. This evidence concerns the gene SLC39A5 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.