Copper – a novel stimulator of autophagy

Copper – a novel stimulator of autophagy – In biomedicine, the transition metal copper has a Janus-faced dual role, as an essential but static cofactor of vital enzymes but also as a highly detrimental poison, if in excess. This vision is best exemplified by two deadly genetic diseases affecting copper concentrations in human tissues in opposed ways: Menkes disease, in which systemic copper...