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The Janus face of copper: its expanding roles in biology and the pathophysiology of disease
Author(s) -
Leary Scot C.,
Winge Dennis R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1038/sj.embor.7400915
Subject(s) - janus , biology , pathophysiology , face (sociological concept) , disease , computational biology , bioinformatics , medicine , computer science , pathology , sociology , endocrinology , social science , programming language
The Fifth International Copper Meeting on Copper and Related Metals in Biology took place between 14 and 18 October 2006 in Alghero, Sardinia, and was organized by M. Solioz, D. Thiele and J. Mercer.![][1] Copper is an essential cofactor for several enzymes that catalyse many biochemical reactions crucial for normal cell physiology. Its ability to accept and donate single electrons as it changes oxidation state between Cu+ and Cu2+—that is, Cu(I) and Cu(II), respectively—makes copper an ideal biological cofactor; however, this ability also allows it to readily catalyse the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through Fenton chemistry when unbound within the cell. Several specific trafficking pathways have evolved to ensure that most copper ions in the cell are either compartmentalized or protein bound, thereby maximizing the trade‐off between their biological utility and toxicity. These pathways include Cu(I)‐binding metallochaperones that shuttle copper to different subcellular sites for storage or the assembly of cupro‐enzymes, and copper permeases and effluxers that act in a coordinated manner to modulate intracellular copper concentration within a relatively narrow range.The Alghero conference highlighted progress in characterizing the function of copper permeases and the molecular genetic regulation of cellular copper levels. The importance of copper in neurobiology and the etiology of several neurological syndromes were also addressed, together with exciting new discoveries that link copper to both the immune response and programmed cell death.Although copper‐catalysed Fenton chemistry has traditionally been viewed solely as a deleterious side‐effect of the presence of copper ions, it now seems that organisms are exploiting its toxic potential to rid themselves of pathogens. Research presented at the meeting highlighted a new appreciation of the role of copper ions in the innate immune response. Activated macrophages and neutrophils are known to release oxygen radicals by a respiratory burst within … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif