Molecular recognition in copper trafficking

From the basic export of unwanted metal ions in simple organisms to the complex orchestration of metal handling and usage in higher eukaryotes, cellular systems are based on a variety of molecular mechanisms that constrain the right metal to bind to the right protein partner at the right time when needed. A failure to overcome the challenges inherent in this task can lead to pathological states that compromise the life of the cell. This is indeed the case with copper, a metal ion that is essential but which can however also create toxic effects when its intracellular concentration and distribution are not properly controlled. Research in this field increasingly indicates that a subtle interplay between metal coordination chemistry and protein-protein interactions finely tunes molecular recognition.