Cells detect and sequester toxic copper: Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The cells of Mycobacterium tuberculosis detect, move, and sequester toxic copper via membrane copper pumps and protein chaperones.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Chemical toxins

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Develop systems to capture and sequester toxic forms of copper in contaminated water bodies. Remove copper from the bloodstream of poison victims, develop process controls systems for chemical manufacturing processes involving copper. Regulating and sequestering copper to build nano-structured materials.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Copper is an essential micronutrient that is involved in protein-mediated electron transfer and enzyme activity, yet reduced copper in its +1 oxidation state is highly toxic to cells. As a result, cellular regulation of copper is highly controlled, involving cell-surface copper pumps and protein chaperones that move copper around the cell, delivering it to specific target proteins and concurrently sequestering it to protect the cell from toxicity." (Wilmot 2007:15)

About the inspiring organism

Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Develop systems to capture and sequester toxic forms of copper in contaminated water bodies. Remove copper from the bloodstream of poison victims, develop process controls systems for chemical manufacturing processes involving copper. Regulating and sequestering copper to build nano-structured materials.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Environmental cleanup, medicine, chemical manufacturing, materials creation

Experts

Carrie Wilmot Laboratory
Carrie M. Wilmot
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota

References

Wilmot, Carrie M. 2007. Fighting toxic copper in a bacterial pathogen. Nat Chem Biol. 3(1): 15-16.

Cells detect and sequester toxic copper: Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Content tools

Curator of this page

Comments