Copper Resistance in <i>E. coli</i>: The Multicopper Oxidase PcoA Catalyzes Oxidation of Copper(I) in Cu^ICu^II‐PcoC

Abstract

Copper export: PcoA and PcoC are soluble proteins expressed to the periplasm as part of the copper-resistance response of E. coli. PcoC binds both CuI and CuII to form air-stable CuICuII-PcoC. The blue multicopper oxidase PcoA has been shown to catalyze oxidation of CuI bound in CuICuII-PcoC to less toxic CuII, which is released into solution. These two proteins may interact with the outer membrane protein PcoB to export excess copper from the periplasm.