Copper—A “Modern” Bioelement

TLDR

Copper is a bioessential element with unique chemistry in its +I and +II states, playing an almost exclusive role in O₂ and N/O compound metabolism and frequently interacting with oxidizing radicals, a function that can be rationalized by its chemical properties and evolutionary history. Advances were driven by reciprocal collaboration between biochemistry, molecular biology, and medicine and the synthesis and structural and spectroscopic characterization of low‑molecular‑weight model complexes. Recent work has significantly advanced understanding of copper’s often surprising biochemistry.

Abstract

Abstract Copper is a bioessential element in biology with truly unique chemical characteristics in its two relevant oxidation states +I and +II. Significant progress has been made in recent years in the elucidation of the frequently surprising biochemistry of this trace element. Those advances were especially furthered through mutual stimulation involving results from biochemistry, molecular biology, and medicine on one hand and the synthesis as well as the structural and spectroscopic characterization of low molecular weight model complexes on the other. The most notable features of protein‐bound active copper are its almost exclusive function in the metabolism of O 2 or N/O compounds (NO , N 2 O) and its frequent association with oxidizing organic and inorganic radicals such as tyrosyl, semiquinones, superoxide, or nitrosyl. This unique biological role of copper can be rationalized given its chemical and assumed evolutionary background.