The biochemistry of copper deficiency - II. Synthetic processes

Abstract

The biochemistry of copper deficiency is studied in order to gain some understanding of the metabolic disturbances which lead to demyelination of the central nervous system in disease. In the preceding paper we reported our investigation of the enzyme systems, blood chemistry and amino-acid excretion in copper-deficient rats, and in this paper extend the study to investigate the syntheses of phospholipid, long-chain fatty acids, ribose nucleic acid, protein and protohaem. Phospholipid synthesis is found to be depressed considerably in copper deficiency. This is due to a failure in the process of condensation of acyl CoA with α-glycerophosphate to form phosphatidic acids. The reasons are discussed. The syntheses of long-chain fatty acids and ribose nucleic acid are normal, whilst the synthesis of protein is inconstantly affected by copper deficiency. Protohaem synthesis is depressed by a degree which exactly parallels the anaemia. The conclusion is drawn that the anaemia is due to a decrease in haematopoiesis rather than an increased destruction of red cells. The possible interrelationships of the disturbances of phospholipid synthesis and cytochrome oxidase activity and the relevance of each to demyelination of the central nervous system are discussed.