FWO-Institutskolloquium "How organisms handle copper - from genetic models to genetic diseases"

Date

May 9, 2012

Time

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Speaker

Prof. Marc SoliozDepartment Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Berne, Switzerland

Language

de

Main Topic

Physik

Other Topics

Physik

Host

Jana Gorzitze

Description

Copper is an essential trace element, but when in excess, it can be highly toxic to cells. Therefore, all organisms have evolved copper homeostatic machineries. Many of the fundamental aspects of copper homeostasis have been elaborated in bacterial model systems such as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus hirae or Lactococcus lactis. Fundamental processes in copper handling include extrusion of copper by specific copper pumps, gene regulation by copper, and intracellular copper routing and delivery by specialized proteins. The understanding of these processes has provided profound insight into basic principles of how organisms handle copper. It has also contributed to an extensive understanding of copper homeostasis in higher organisms. The two human genetic diseases in copper homeostasis are now also well understood at the molecular level and new modes of treatment are under investigation.

Last modified: May 9, 2012, 9:35:10 AM