How (deficient) copper causes illness
Solioz, M.; Bissig, K.D.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 128(31-32): 1175-1180
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 9738276 Document Number: 495340
Copper is an essential cofactor in all cells. However, it remains largely unknown how cells deal with this element, which is essential yet toxic. Through the study of microbial model systems on the one hand, and the investigation of inherited diseases in copper metabolism on the other, important insights into the way cells deal with copper can be gained. Two key new elements of copper metabolism have emerged from these studies: ATP-driven copper pumps and intracellular copper transport proteins, the copper chaperones.