Copper Transporting P-Type ATPases in the Brain

Abstract

Mammals have two transmembrane copper transporting ATPases, which show a high degree of homology and play crucial roles in copper homeostasis in various tissues including the brain (La Fontaine and Mercer, 2007; Lutsenko et al., 2007). They catalyse transport of copper across membranes and can function in both the delivery of copper to copper-dependent enzymes and proteins and in the efflux of copper from cells. Copper is essential and potentially toxic and these transporters are pivotal in maintaining copper homeostasis in individual tissues and in the whole organism. ATP7A encodes the Menkes copper transporter whilst ATP7B encodes the Wilson copper transporter. Severe neurological symptoms..