Copper Control Discovery
Exciting Discovery in Protein Science!
Prof. Sharon Ruthstein, collaborating with Prof. Sunil Saxena (University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA) and Dr. Liel Sapir, has revealed how bacteria sense and control copper inside their cells- a metal that’s both vital and dangerous. By using advanced spectroscopy, they showed how a protein called CsoR shifts between different forms to regulate copper levels.
This may sound niche, but the implications are huge. Bacteria like Mycobacterium tuberculosis rely on this mechanism to survive. If we understand it better, we can design new strategies to fight infections, develop tools to manage metal balance in cells, and even inspire innovations in biotechnology.
At its core, this work is about balance: life depends on just the right amount of copper. Too little, and essential processes fail. Too much, and cells die. The discovery helps us see how nature walks that tightrope—and how we might use that knowledge to solve problems in health and beyond.
Congratulations to Prof. Sharon Ruthstein and collaborators on a breakthrough that connects the tiniest details of molecular biology with challenges that affect us all.
