Copper is an essential element for chloroplast function. It is a cofactor of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and plastocyanin. Copper is transported to the chloroplast with the help of copper chaperones, which are responsible for transporting copper from the transporter to the target. In the final step, the chaperone protein binds to the copper-dependent enzyme and inserts copper ions into its active site. The Arabidopsis gene AtCCS encodes the copper chaperone of SOD. The AtCCS protein is localized to the chloroplast, where it may supply copper to the matrix Cu/ZnSOD.
For research use only, not for clinical use.