Trace elements in human physiology and pathology. Copper.

Article Details

Citation

Tapiero H, Townsend DM, Tew KD

Trace elements in human physiology and pathology. Copper.

Biomed Pharmacother. 2003 Nov;57(9):386-98.

PubMed ID
14652164 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Copper is a trace element, important for the function of many cellular enzymes. Copper ions can adopt distinct redox states oxidized Cu(II) or reduced (I), allowing the metal to play a pivotal role in cell physiology as a catalytic cofactor in the redox chemistry of enzymes, mitochondrial respiration, iron absorption, free radical scavenging and elastin cross-linking. If present in excess, free copper ions can cause damage to cellular components and a delicate balance between the uptake and efflux of copper ions determines the amount of cellular copper. In biological systems, copper homeostasis has been characterized at the molecular level. It is coordinated by several proteins such as glutathione, metallothionein, Cu-transporting P-type ATPases, Menkes and Wilson proteins and by cytoplasmic transport proteins called copper chaperones to ensure that it is delivered to specific subcellular compartments and thereby to copper-requiring proteins.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs
Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
CopperAdenosylhomocysteinaseProteinHumans
Unknown
Allosteric modulator
Details
CopperAmyloid beta A4 proteinProteinHumans
Unknown
Binder
Details
Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
CopperAngiogeninProteinHumans
Unknown
Cofactor
Details
CopperCytochrome c oxidase subunit 1ProteinHumans
Unknown
Cofactor
Details
CopperDopamine beta-hydroxylaseProteinHumans
Unknown
Cofactor
Details
CopperMajor prion proteinProteinHumans
Unknown
Cofactor
Details
CopperMonoamine oxidase (Protein Group)Protein groupHumans
Unknown
Cofactor
Details
CopperPeptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenaseProteinHumans
Unknown
Cofactor
Details
CopperTyrosinaseProteinHumans
Unknown
Cofactor
Details
Drug Carriers
DrugCarrierKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
CopperAlpha-2-macroglobulinProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperCeruloplasminProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperCoagulation factor VProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperCoagulation factor VIIIProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperCopper chaperone for superoxide dismutaseProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperCopper transport protein ATOX1ProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperCytochrome c oxidase copper chaperoneProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperHephaestinProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperMetallothionein (Protein Group)Protein groupHumans
No
Binder
Details
CopperSerum albuminProteinHumans
No
Binder
Details
Drug Transporters
DrugTransporterKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
CopperCopper-transporting ATPase 1ProteinHumans
No
Substrate
Details
CopperCopper-transporting ATPase 2ProteinHumans
No
Substrate
Details
CopperHigh affinity copper uptake protein 1ProteinHumans
No
Substrate
Details
CopperNatural resistance-associated macrophage protein 2ProteinHumans
No
Substrate
Details