Predicted to enable zinc ion transmembrane transporter activity. Acts upstream of or within cellular response to zinc ion starvation and positive regulation of mRNA splicing, via spliceosome. Located in basolateral plasma membrane. Is expressed in several structures, including branchial arch; gut; hemolymphoid system gland; liver and biliary system; and reproductive system. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in myopia. Orthologous to human SLC39A5 (solute carrier family 39 member 5). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]