Cellular Lipid Metabolism Is Influenced By The Coordination Environment Of Copper

摘要

Transition metals such as cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, and zinc play important roles in biology and can even influence gene expression. Proteins can act as sensors of metal ions such as Cu leading to cellular responses that avoid metal imbalance. The improper trafficking of Cu ions within the human body is a contributing factor in many diseases including Wilson's, Menkes', and Alzheimer's diseases. In Wilson's disease, Cu ion homeostasis is disrupted. Mutations to the ATP7B protein required for the proper export of Cu from liver cells to bile and ceruloplasmin cause Cu levels to increase in the cell to toxic levels. Studies of mice in which the ATP7B gene is knocked out have identified a link between Cu and lipid metabolism, showing that upon inducing a state of Cu excess, the expression of genes for cholesterol and lipid biosynthesis are affected.