Biochemistry of copper
Chemistry
Most effective monovalent and divalent ions for binding organic molecules due to electron affinity
Means Cu+/Cu2+ effective as a redox couple
pi donor, so binds O2 and CO
Soft metal, so binds soft and borderline donor atoms such as sulfur and nitrogen
Most likely redox couple after the Great Oxygenation Event (before which it was Fe+/Fe2+)
Produced by electrowinning
Geobiochemical process in which copper sulfide is oxidised into copper sulfate by Thiobacillus ferroxidans which assimilates CO2
CuFeS2 + 4O2 -> CuSO4 + FeSO4
In vivo function
Tissue crosslinking
Free radical oxidases
In plants, by producing phenol.
Tissue browning in cooking
O2 transport
Haemocyanin
Cytochome oxidase
Electron transfer
Classification
Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
Haemocyanin
Copper blue proteins
Single Cu held by histidine, cysteine and methionine
Catalyses O2 + 4H -> 2H2O
Oxidases
Single copper ligated to four histidines, one of which is bound to a zinc atom also.
Cytochrome C has two haem centres and two copper centres.
Two potential binding modes - one has metal-metal bond and one has bridging sulfur.
Two copper ions coordinating three histidines each.
One O2 bound between two Cu ions
Oxygenation turns haemocyanin blue - hence why arthropods have blue blood!
Binding site for O2 in arthropods and molluscs.
Nutrition
Toxicity
Childhood cirrhosis
Caused by exposure from cooking utensils
Due to Fenton-like chemistry - Free radical production
Damages lipids and proteins
Deficiency
Arterial weakness and heart enlargement
Reduction in catecholamine neurotransmitters
Catecholamine neurotransmitter production
Health
Genetic disorders
Menke's syndrome
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (MS)
Degradation of the CNS
Wilson's disease
Copper buildup
Wound healing
Regulate expression of proteins involved in proliferation step
Well-known angiogenic factor (vascular regeneration)
Regulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Regulated Matrix metalloproteinases and TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of MMPs)
Application of small concentration of copper upregulates MMPs
Used as an antibiotic since ancient Egypt.