Effect of copper(II) on the aerobic oxidative uptake of iron(II) by horse spleen apoferritin‡

Abstract

The interaction of copper(II) with horse spleen apoferritin has been investigated and approximately 16–22 Cu^II ions are shown to bind relatively tightly to the 24 subunit protein. The bound Cu^II is shown to have a catalytic effect on the aerobic oxidative uptake of Fe^II rather than the inhibitory effect that Zn^II has. Possible reasons for this are discussed.