Less is more: Reducing zinc to boost stem cell-derived islet function and survival.

Zinc is required for insulin packaging into secretory granules, yet reduced zinc transporter activity paradoxically enhances beta cell function. In this issue, Wang et al. show that pharmacologic inhibition of zinc transport in stem cell-derived islets activates AMPK signaling and improves maturation, hypoxia resistance, VEGFA expression, and graft performance.