Copper proteins physicochemical properties

The physicochemical properties of the element copper are such that free ionic copper probably does not exist in appreciable amounts in the living organism. An exception may be the stomach contents where a relatively high degree of acidity may allow the solution of copper ions. In the rest of the body, copper is in a complexed, more or less tightly bound form with proteins, peptides, amino acids, and probably other organic substances. 

During the last seven years intensive studies of both human and bovine erythrocuprein have been performed (65—83). Carrico and Deutsch were able to demonstrate the identity of erythro-, cerebro-, and hepatocuprein using copper proteins from human tissues the amino-acid analysis, immunochemical behaviour, and physicochemical properties were identical in all three. In 1970 they found, in addition to the 2 copper atoms, a second metallic component, namely 2 atoms of zinc (69). 

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