Copper is a
trace element present in all tissues and is required for cellular respiration,
peptide amidation,
neurotransmitter biosynthesis, pigment formation, and connective tissue strength.
Copper is a cofactor for numerous
enzymes and plays an important role in central nervous system development; low concentrations of
copper may result in incomplete development, whereas excess
copper maybe injurious.
Copper may be involved in
free radical production, via the Haber-Weiss reaction, that results in mitochondrial damage,
DNA breakage, and neuronal injury. Evidence of abnormal
copper transport and aberrant
copper-
protein interactions in numerous human
neurological disorders supports the critical importance of this trace
metal for proper neurodevelopment and neurological function. The biochemical phenotypes of human disorders that involve
copper homeostasis suggest possible
biomarkers of
copper status that may be applicable to general populations.