background: copper and zinc are the elements with numerous physiological activities.  copper  (cu)  has  an  important  role  in  angiogenesis  and  acts  by increasing vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf). serum levels of copper will be increased in cancer incidence, progression and recurrence. the aim of this study was to measure blood levels of copper, zinc, and the ratio of cu /zn, as ...

BACKGROUND Short-term high copper intake does not appear to affect indexes of copper status or functions related to copper status, but the effects of long-term high copper intake are unknown. OBJECTIVE A study was conducted in men to determine the effect of long-term high copper intake on indexes of copper status, oxidant damage, and immune function. DESIGN Nine men were confined to a metab...

Zinc therapy has replaced penicillamine as first-line therapy for Wilson's disease. New guidelines reflect the paradigm shift in treatment that has occurred in recent years. In the old paradigm, Wilson's disease was seen as genetic disorder associated with the accumulation of copper in the liver and in other organs once the liver had become overloaded with copper. When left untreated, the disea...

In previous investigations an impact of cellular copper homeostasis on ageing of the ascomycete Podospora anserina has been demonstrated. Here we provide new data indicating that mitochondria play a major role in this process. Determination of copper in the cytosolic fraction using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy analysis and eGfp reporter gene studies indicate an age-related i...

MNK (Menkes copper-translocating P-type ATPase, or the Menkes protein; ATP7A) plays a key role in regulating copper homoeostasis in humans. MNK has been shown to have a dual role in the cell: it delivers copper to cuproenzymes in the Golgi compartment and effluxes excess copper from the cell. These roles can be achieved through copper-regulated trafficking of MNK. It has previously been shown t...

The copper chaperone for the superoxide dismutase (CCS) gene is necessary for expression of an active, copper-bound form of superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in vivo in spite of the high affinity of SOD1 for copper (dissociation constant = 6 fM) and the high intracellular concentrations of both SOD1 (10 microM in yeast) and copper (70 microM in yeast). In vitro studies demonstrated that purified Cu(I...

Hypopigmentation is a feature of copper deficiency in humans, as caused by mutation of the copper (Cu(2+)) transporter ATP7A in Menkes disease, or an inability to absorb copper after gastric surgery. However, many causes of copper deficiency are unknown, and genetic polymorphisms might underlie sensitivity to suboptimal environmental copper conditions. Here, we combined phenotypic screens in ze...

Copper is an essential trace element, the imbalances of which are associated with various pathological conditions, including cancer, albeit via largely undefined molecular and cellular mechanisms. Here we provide evidence that levels of bioavailable copper modulate tumor growth. Chronic exposure to elevated levels of copper in drinking water, corresponding to the maximum allowed in public water...

Though being an importance trace element required for normal metabolic activities, copper has some adverse effects in various organ-systems including testis. Occupational exposure to copper in different industries may result in abnormal rise in plasma copper level which can bring about spermatogenic inhibition. Our findings on inhibition of spermatogenesis and decrease in testosterone productio...

Copper is an essential metal for normal plant growth and development, although it is also potentially toxic. Copper participates in numerous physiological processes and is an essential cofactor for many metalloproteins, however, problems arise when excess copper is present in cells. Excess copper inhibits plant growth and impairs important cellular processes (i.e., photosynthetic electron trans...