Copper continued deficiency

Various nutrient deficiencies can affect lettuce. Boron or phosphorus deficiency causes malformed plants. Calcium deficiency causes browning of young leaves. Poor heart formation is a symptom of molybdenum deficiency. Copper deficiency prevents heads from forming. Spray seedlings with seaweed extract to help prevent nutrient deficiencies. Continue to spray plants with seaweed extract or compost tea every 2 weeks to boost plant health. Do a soil test to confirm the deficiency, and amend soil accordingly. 

Ceruloplasmin. This is the most well-known and yet the least understood copper protein. It is an a2-globulin and there is conclusive evidence that this 132000 molecular weight glycoprotein has just one polypeptide chain [9]. It has 7% carbohydrate. It contains six atoms of copper per molecule. Copper in ceruloplasmin exists in both cupric and cuprous forms. Partial removal of copper from ceruloplasmin results in the loss of its characteristic blue color and loss of enzymatic activity. Ceruloplasmin has enzymatic oxidase activity toward several substrates at pH 5.4-S.9. The best substrate is p-phenylenediamine or its dimethyl derivative. Ceruloplasmin can oxidize ferrous ion to ferric ion. The ceruloplasmin level in the newborn is less than 10 mg/100 mL serum. It rises to adult levels (30.4 5 mg/lOO mL) by 2-4 months of age and continues to rise to a peak at 2-3 years and this declines to adult levels by 12 years of age. The level of ceruloplasmin is affected by various pathological states. Usually, a pronounced deficiency of this protein in serum is characteristic of both Wilson s and Menkes s diseases although normal levels have also been reported in the case of Wilson s disease. 

Proust s conclusions were immediately challenged by Berthollet, who maintained that many compounds could have a variable composition. Berthollet quoted the example of the metal copper, which appeared to form a wide range of oxides. Proust pointed out that this was due to the formation of different mixtures of two oxides, each of definite composition. Berthollet s concept of continuously variable composition would have been hard to reconcile with the chemical atomic theory, but by about 1808 Proust s views were generally accepted. However, many years later it was discovered that some compounds, such as the oxides and sulphides of iron, could indeed have a variable composition. In the case of iron(ll) sulphide, a compound corresponding to the formula FeS is rarely encountered, and samples are usually deficient in iron to a variable extent. This is due to some of the lattice sites of iron(ll) ions being vacant, while others are occupied by iron(lll) ions to maintain electrical neutrality. These non-stoichiometric compounds are sometimes called Berthollide compounds. 

TOXICITY. Toxicity of zinc in man occurs with the ingestion of 2 g or more. Zinc sulfate, taken in these amounts, produces acute gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting. However, zinc has been administered to patients in tenfold excess of the dietary allowances for months and years without adverse reactions. But there is evidence that excessive intakes of zinc may aggravate marginal copper deficiency. For the latter reason, the continuous taking of zinc supplements of more than 15 mg/day, in addition to the dietary intake, should not be done without medical supervision. 

Recognition of the symptoms of copper deficiency has been and will continue to be extremely important in maintaining the health and well-being of humans. Despite suggestions to the contrary, copper deficiency does occur in human beings. As early as 1931, Josephs (1931) detected copper deficiency in infants. More recently, the symptoms of copper deficiency have been observed in infants fed low-copper milk diets (Cordano et al, 1964), in premature infants (Al-Rashid and Spangler, 1971), in infants nourished by total parenteral alimentation (Karpel and Peden,... 

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