Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause pancreatic β-cell death by activating transient receptor potential (melastatin) 2 (TRPM2) channels. Cell death has been attributed to the ability of these channels to raise cytosolic Ca 2 + . Recent studies however revealed that TRPM2 channels can also conduct Zn 2 + , but the physiological relevance of this property is enigmatic. Given that Zn 2 + is cytotoxic, we asked whether TRPM2 channels can permeate sufficient Zn 2 + to affect cell viability. To address this, we used the insulin secreting (INS1) β-cell line, human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells transfected with TRPM2 and pancreatic islets. H 2 O 2 activation of TRPM2 channels increases the cytosolic levels of both Ca 2 + and Zn 2 + and causes apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, chelation of Zn 2 + alone was sufficient to prevent β-cell death. The source of the cytotoxic Zn 2 + is intracellular, found largely sequestered in lysosomes. Lysosomes express TRPM2 channels, providing a potential route for Zn 2 + release. Zn 2 + release is potentiated by extracellular Ca 2 + entry, indicating that Ca 2 + -induced Zn 2 + release leads to apoptosis. Knockout of TRPM2 channels protects mice from β-cell death and hyperglycaemia induced by multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ; MLDS) administration. These results argue that TRPM2-mediated, Ca 2 + -potentiated Zn 2 + release underlies ROS-induced β-cell death and Zn 2 + , rather than Ca 2 + , plays a primary role in apoptosis.