Copper Supply Research Articles

Wood production and nutritional and antioxidant status of field-grown Eucalyptus under a differential supply of lime and copper plus zinc

The Eucalyptus grandis L. plantations for industrial purposes (e.g., wood charcoal and pulp) are largely adopted worldwide, mainly in acidic and poorly fertile soils. The application of lime to soil is recommended for eucalyptus plantation, but lime reduces the availability of metallic micronutrients to plants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the performance of field-grown Eucalyptus grandis in Ferralsol amended with lime at different rates (0.0 and 1.6 and 3.7 Mg ha-1) and Cu plus Zn [0.0 and 0.0 kg ha-1 (-CuZn) and 0.5 and 1.5 kg ha-1 (+CuZn)]. The soil chemical attributes, shoot biomass, and nutrient accumulation were evaluated, while nutrient use efficiency, chlorophyll (Chl) and flavonoid (Flav) contents, and enzymatic antioxidant performance [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)] were assayed to assess the nutritional status of the plants. Despite the lime application rate increasing Ca and Mg soil availabilities, effective cation exchange capacity (eCEC), base saturation (BS), and pH values, the available Cu, Fe, and Zn concentrations decreased at 6 and 30 months after planting. Conversely, Mn soil availability increased with lime application rates. Liming augmented Cu-, Fe-, Mn-, and Zn-use efficiency, while +CuZn supply increased enzymatic antioxidant performance in 30-month-old plant. Overall, the combined application of lime and +CuZn enhanced shoot biomass relative to that of non-treated plants. However, there was no observed difference in shoot biomass in 30-month-old limed and non-limed eucalyptus trees that were supplied with +CuZn. This result can be partially explained by the improvement in soil chemical attributes, such as soil pH, eCEC, and BS. In conclusion, the use of integrative approaches and temporal evaluations provided new insights into wood yield, biochemical traits, antioxidant metabolism, and the nutritional status of field-grown eucalyptus under lime and +CuZn application rates.

Antimony and Nickel Impurities in Blue and Green Copper Pigments

Impurities in paint layers executed with green and blue copper pigments, although relatively common, have been studied only little to date. Yet, their proper identification is a powerful tool for classification of paintings, and, potentially, for future provenance studies. In this paper, we present analyses of copper pigments layers from wall paintings situated in the vicinity of copper ore deposits (the palace in Kielce, the palace in Ciechanowice, and the parish church in Chotków) located within the contemporary borders of Poland. We compare the results with the analyses of copper minerals from three deposits, two local, and one historically important for the supply of copper in Europe, i.e., Miedzianka in the Holy Cross Mountains, Miedzianka in the Sudetes, and, as a reference, Špania Dolina in the Slovakian Low Tatra. Optical (OM) and electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), Raman spectroscopy, and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) have been used for a detailed investigation of the minute grains. Special attention has been devoted to antimony and nickel phases, as more unusual than the commonly described iron oxides. Analyses of minerals from the deposits helped to interpret the results obtained from the paint samples. For the first time, quantitative analyses of copper pigments’ impurities have been described.

Adult Cerebellar Ataxia, Axonal Neuropathy, and Sensory Impairments Caused by Biallelic SCO2 Variants.

SCO2 encodes a 266-amino-acid metallochaperone involved in copper supply for the assembly of cytochrome c oxidase or complex IV (CIV). CIV is the terminal enzyme of the energy-transducing respiratory chain that transfers electrons from reduced cytochrome c to oxygen via 3 copper ions.1 SCO2 pathogenic variants were first identified in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, often associated with developmental delay and lactic acidosis2 (Figure, A). SCO2 variants were then reported in children with Leigh syndrome3 and early-onset axonal neuropathy,4 possibly associated with cerebellar ataxia5 (Figure, A). Here, we report heterozygous missense SCO2 variants in a 48-year-old patient presenting with a complex neurologic and sensory phenotype comprising cerebellar ataxia, sensory neuronopathy, deafness, pigmentary retinopathy, and cataract. The authors thank Sandrine Filaut et Laura Legrand for their help with NGS.

Emission impacts of China\u2019s solid waste import ban and COVID-19 in the copper supply chain

Climate change will increase the frequency and severity of supply chain disruptions and large-scale economic crises, also prompting environmentally protective local policies. Here we use econometric time series analysis, inventory-driven price formation, dynamic material flow analysis, and life cycle assessment to model each copper supply chain actor’s response to China’s solid waste import ban and the COVID-19 pandemic. We demonstrate that the economic changes associated with China’s solid waste import ban increase primary refining within China, offsetting the environmental benefits of decreased copper scrap refining and generating a cumulative increase in CO2-equivalent emissions of up to 13 Mt by 2040. Increasing China’s refined copper imports reverses this trend, decreasing CO2e emissions in China (up to 180 Mt by 2040) and globally (up to 20 Mt). We test sensitivity to supply chain disruptions using GDP, mining, and refining shocks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, showing the results translate onto disruption effects.

Uptake and Utilization of Nitrogen from Organic Fertilizers Influenced by Different Doses of Copper

Copper is a microelement involved in the metabolism of nitrogen compounds in plants. Good utilization of nitrogen from soil and fertilizers by plants requires an adequate supply of copper. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of increasing levels of copper (100, 200, and 300 mg Cu·kg−1 of soil) applied together with various organic fertilizers (cattle manure, chicken manure, and spent mushroom substrate) on nitrogen content and uptake by cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and the coefficient of nitrogen utilization from organic fertilizers. The pot experiment was carried out in three growing seasons (May–September) in greenhouse, and in this cocksfoot was grown and harvested four cuts in each year. Copper and organic fertilizers were applied once in the first year before sowing cocksfoot, and the after-effect was investigated in the second and third years. Application of different amounts of copper did not influence the nitrogen content in the biomass of cocksfoot. At the same time, soil application of this micronutrient in the amount of 100 mg Cu∙kg−1 of soil caused an increase in nitrogen uptake in the biomass of cocksfoot. Application of 100 and 200 mg Cu·kg−1 of soil caused an increase in the coefficient of nitrogen utilization from the organic fertilizers, which was highest effect in the case of cattle manure. All of the organic materials used increased the content of nitrogen and its uptake by cocksfoot, but the greatest effect was noted following application of chicken manure. The study showed no synergistic or antagonistic relationships between copper and nitrogen.

Pharaoh’s copper: The provenance of copper in bronze artifacts from post-imperial Egypt at the end of the second millennium BCE

The source of Egypt’s copper supply during the Third Intermediate Period (1070–664 BCE) is largely unknown. Here we present new data from chemical (elemental) and lead isotope (LI) analysis of royal Egyptian artifacts of the 21st Dynasty (ca. 1010 BCE) – a period which until now was represented in the LI record only by a single artifact. Our finds identify the source of the copper in the Arabah region providing a basis for our historical reconstruction of the copper exchange network in the southern Levant at the turn of the first millennium BCE. We also analyzed two objects from the 24th and 25th Dynasties (8th c. BCE), which revealed a marked change in Egyptian copper metallurgy in both the composition (from Cu with traces of Sn to leaded copper with traces of As) and the supply chain (the Arabah ores are excluded). As the sampling involved museum artifacts, we performed X-ray imaging as a means to avoid sampling of any later metallic modifications and ensure the correct sampling process.

Evaluation of econometric models of secondary refined copper supply

Copper is essential in attaining a sustainable development path due to its prominent role in the electromobility and renewable energy industries. In 2019 refined copper usage was 23.5 million tons, of which primary copper supplied 86.3%, and the remaining 13.7% was provided by secondary metal. In the future, copper recycling would increase significantly concerning primary copper supply to meet the goal of decreasing greenhouse gases emissions. Secondary copper production reduces energy consumption by 85% and greenhouse gas emissions by 65% compared to average primary sources.This study analyzes seven econometric models described in the literature that tried to explain the supply of secondary refined copper worldwide (SRC). Furthermore, this study assesses the forecasting capacity of these models in the short and long-term. Although the explanatory variables selected by previous researchers are theoretically supported, they failed to fully explain SRC. An empirical analysis for the period 1960–2017 confirmed that only two of the eight studied explanatory variables shown to be causal of SRC in the short-term. The re-estimation of the coefficients shows high instability when the number of variables or observations changed, making it difficult to analyze the future market and to assess public policies. Although the explanatory variables share the same long-term trend (cointegrated series), they do not properly forecast the future when evaluated using the Backcasting methodology.Based on these results, it is possible to improve the explanatory and predictive power of the analyzed models and reduce their average error.

Chronische Kupferüberversorgung als mögliches Bestandsproblem in einer deutschen Milchviehherde

In contrast to sheep, chronic copper oversupply or toxicity represent infrequent events in cattle. This case report describes a chronically elevated exposure to copper arising from excessive supplementation of mineral feedstuff leading to a herd health problem in a German Holstein dairy herd. For diagnosis on herd level, 10 cows of both the close-up (VB) and high-yielding (HL) groups were selected and blood as well as urine samples were collected. Clinical chemistry investigation of these samples only revealed slightly raised activities of liver enzymes in cows of the HL group. Analysis of the total mixed ration (TMR) of both groups revealed a significant oversupply with copper, zinc, cobalt, and selenium. On the basis of these findings, the copper content of urine, feces, pigmented hair as well as plasma ceruloplasmin activity were measured additionally. Liver biopsies were performed in cows of the HL group and in heifers, the latter of which had received a mineral feed for young cattle according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results indicated increased fecal copper in both HL and VB groups as well as above normal or high-normal values of hepatic copper and cobalt resp. selenium, zinc, and manganese in the HL cows. In contrast, heifers had physiological amounts of trace elements in their liver tissues. This report demonstrates the suitability of fecal analysis and TMR for a reliable assessment of copper supply, while blood, urine, and hair failed to represent appropriate sample types. In order to attain a dependable diagnosis of potential copper oversupply, a liver biopsy - which may also be performed in buiatric practice - is deemed necessary.

The impact of China's import ban on global copper scrap flow network and the domestic copper sustainability

Copper is widely used in electronic appliances, transportation equipment, industrial equipment, organic chemistry, medicine, alloys, etc. China is the largest consumer and importer of refined copper. Yet China relies heavily on imports and secondary use of scrap copper resources to meet its demand for copper; ∼60% of its copper is imported. In this study, the copper supply in China was analyzed, based on the impact of China's policy changes on copper imports and the utilization of recycled copper. As China's waste import policies become more stringent, the total amount of copper scrap imported to China dropped sharply, from 4.51 Mt (2012) to 1.35 Mt (2019). China's waste import policy will also affect the international copper trade and have an impact on the world's copper material flow, especially for scrap copper. Under the influence of China's ban, China's major copper scrap importing countries are gradually changing from developed countries (the United States, Japan, etc.) to developing countries (Thailand, Malaysia, etc.). China is in a stage of rapid economic development, with frequent replacement of copper products, and the recycling potential of scrap copper is enormous. At the same time, ore mining is consuming more energy and producing more pollution. Therefore, under the impact of China's import ban, reducing imports and increasing domestic copper scrap utilization can not only improve China's self-sufficiency in regard to copper, but also save energy and reduce emissions, avoiding environmental pollution. Domestic recycled copper will become China's main sources of copper in the future.

Filter Cake as a Long-Standing Source of Micronutrients for Sugarcane

The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual effects of micronutrient application with or without filter cake on the supply of micronutrients, i.e., zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo), and sugarcane ratoon performance based on stalk and sugar yield. Two experiments were established in Sao Paulo state, Brazil, in a Rhodic Hapludox and a Typic Quartzipsamment in a randomized block design with an 8 × 2 factorial scheme. Seven micronutrient treatments (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, B, Mo, and all micronutrients) plus one control treatment combined with two filter cake rates (0 and 30 t ha−1) were applied in the planting furrow. Leaf micronutrient concentrations and stalk and sugar yields in the first, second, and third sugarcane ratoons were evaluated. The leaf concentrations of micronutrients were not affected by their application in the planting furrows but were affected by filter cake application. In addition, filter cake application increased stalk and sugar yields in both soil types and all ratoons. The micronutrients and filter cake applied in the planting furrow were able to supply micronutrients to sugarcane ratoons. The best plant response was attributed to B and Zn application, and a residual effect of filter cake application was observed in successive ratoons, with increased stalk and sugar yields.

Neuron-glia: understanding cellular copper homeostasis, its cross-talk and their contribution towards neurodegenerative diseases.

Over the years, the mechanism of copper homeostasis in various organ systems has gained importance. This is owing to the involvement of copper in a wide range of genetic disorders, most of them involving neurological symptoms. This highlights the importance of copper and its tight regulation in a complex organ system like the brain. It demands understanding the mechanism of copper acquisition and delivery to various cell types overcoming the limitation imposed by the blood brain barrier. The present review aims to investigate the existing work to understand the mechanism and complexity of cellular copper homeostasis in the two major cell types of the CNS - the neurons and the astrocytes. It investigates the mechanism of copper uptake, incorporation and export by these cell types. Furthermore, it brings forth the common as well as the exclusive aspects of neuronal and glial copper homeostasis including the studies from copper-based sensors. Glia act as a mediator of copper supply between the endothelium and the neurons. They possess all the qualifications of acting as a 'copper-sponge' for supply to the neurons. The neurons, on the other hand, require copper for various essential functions like incorporation as a cofactor for enzymes, synaptogenesis, axonal extension, inhibition of postsynaptic excitotoxicity, etc. Lastly, we also aim to understand the neuronal and glial pathology in various copper homeostasis disorders. The etiology of glial pathology and its contribution towards neuronal pathology and vice versa underlies the complexity of the neuropathology associated with the copper metabolism disorders.

Global Electrification of Vehicles and Intertwined Material Supply Chains of Cobalt, Copper and Nickel

Electric vehicles (EVs) will be an important part of a low-carbon economy. Future EV adoption depends on overcoming multiple barriers, including charging infrastructure, sufficient electricity generation, and the availability of battery raw materials at acceptable costs, including cobalt, copper and nickel – which typically are co-produced. Various EV projections have been made, along with associated requirements for battery raw materials (demand). There have been separate assessments of the availability of raw materials (supply). However, integrated assessments of supply and demand and their interaction over time are lacking to support decision-making. Using a dynamic market model that reflects the co-produced nature of cobalt, copper and nickel production as well as recycling, we estimate global output of these three metals under different EV growth scenarios from 2020 to 2040. Results suggest that starting in 2025, replacement demand for battery raw materials becomes important. Thus, estimates for future material demand that consider only demands from new EVs are incomplete and misleading. EV deployment and associated increased demand for raw materials will have a greater impact on prices for cobalt than nickel and, in turn, for nickel than copper. High EV deployment scenarios will be difficult to achieve without larger supplies of copper, nickel and cobalt than forthcoming under the conditions modeled here, which anticipates a six-year time lag between a demand increase and the expansion of metal-production capacity. Shortening battery lifetimes and improving collection and recycling rates increase secondary supply, but the extent to which these factors support additional EV deployment is mixed.

Unraveling the Causes of Excess Lead in Drinking Water Supply Systems of Densely Populated High-Rise Buildings in Hong Kong.

Excess concentrations of lead (Pb) were found in tap water from drinking water supply systems of high-rise buildings in 11 public rental housing (PRH) estates in Hong Kong, posing threats to public health. The copper supply lines are fitted with lead-soldered connections and brass fixtures and faucets. The causes of excess lead are studied through field sampling on occupied households, experiments on prototype supply chains, and 3D numerical modeling. The tap water lead concentration of 129 households in the PRH estates was sampled using a specially designed protocol, revealing the highly variable lead concentration variations induced by sources along the supply chain. Lead concentration variation at consumer tap and its relation with various lead sources are studied in a full-scale test rig. A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is successfully developed to interpret the time variation of lead concentrations at the consumer tap. Model predictions of the complex variation of dissolved lead are in good agreement with data and confirm lead solder in copper pipe connections as a major cause of the "lead water" episode in Hong Kong. The CFD calculations demonstrate the importance of turbulent diffusion and shear flow dispersion in the modeling of lead; the use of a "plug flow" approximation can result in significant overestimation of lead concentration. The findings provide a basis for lead risk assessment of different water sampling strategies in densely populated high-rise buildings in Megacities.

Copper Supplementation, A Challenge in Cattle.

Simple SummaryCopper supplementation in ruminants deserves special attention because of the narrow margin between deficiency and toxicity, both of which ruminants are susceptible to suffering from. Supplementation of copper above requirements to prevent deficiency has led to an increased number of outbreaks of copper toxicity being reported in recent years, particularly in dairy cattle. In this paper we describe the key points of copper metabolism in cattle that should be taken into consideration to guarantee an adequate copper supply while preventing toxic effects.Ensuring adequate copper supplementation in ruminants is a challenging task due to the complexity of copper metabolism in these animals. The three-way interaction between copper, molybdenum and sulphur (Cu-Mo-S) in the rumen makes ruminants, particularly cattle, very susceptible to suffering from secondary copper deficiency. Paradoxically, excessive copper storage in the liver to prevent deficiency becomes a hazard when ruminants are fed copper-supplemented diets even slightly above requirements. While cattle were traditionally thought to be relatively tolerant of copper accumulation, and reports of copper poisoning were until recently somewhat rare, in recent years an increased number of episodes/outbreaks of copper toxicity in cattle, particularly in dairy cattle, have been reported worldwide. The growing number of lethal cases reported seems to indicate that copper intoxication is spreading silently in dairy herds, urging the development of strategies to monitor herd copper status and improve farmers’ awareness of copper toxicity. In fact, monitoring studies carried out on numerous samples collected from culled animals in slaughterhouses and/or diagnostic laboratories have demonstrated that large numbers of animals have hepatic copper concentrations well above adequate levels in many different countries. These trends are undoubtedly due to copper supplementation aimed at preventing copper deficiency, as dietary copper intake from pasture alone is unlikely to cause such high levels of accumulation in liver tissue. The reasons behind the copper overfeeding in cattle are related both to a poor understanding of copper metabolism and the theory of “if adding a little produces a response, then adding a lot will produce a better response”. Contrary to most trace elements, copper in ruminants has narrow margins of safety, which must also be formulated considering the concentrations of copper antagonists in the diet. This review paper aims to provide nutritionists/veterinary practitioners with the key points about copper metabolism in cattle to guarantee an adequate copper supply while preventing excessive hepatic copper loading, which requires à la carte copper supplementation for each herd.

A Closed-loop Supply Chain Network Design Problem in Copper Industry

Undoubtedly, metals are the basis of the sustainable development of all human societies. In the last century, the role of copper, as the third most widely used metal, after steel and aluminum, has been crucial. Copper is a recyclable metal. It has many applications such as industrial electricity, plumping, wiring, electronic equipment, transportation, and infrastructure. Today, with the growth of the industry in societies, the demand for copper has increased. This motivated us to study its supply chain network design firstly. To the best of our knowledge, there is no research reported about copper supply chain network design. This paper aims to maximize the profit of the copper closed-loop supply chain. We formulate this network design problem as a Mixed Integer Programming model. The model is considered as single-objective and multi-product. The exact solution of the model is found by using GAMS software. Sensitivity analysis results provide useful results that managers can use them in decisions.

Copper interferes with selenoprotein synthesis and activity

Selenium and copper are essential trace elements for humans, needed for the biosynthesis of enzymes contributing to redox homeostasis and redox-dependent signaling pathways. Selenium is incorporated as selenocysteine into the active site of redox-relevant selenoproteins including glutathione peroxidases (GPX) and thioredoxin reductases (TXNRD). Copper-dependent enzymes mediate electron transfer and other redox reactions. As selenoprotein expression can be modulated e.g. by H2O2, we tested the hypothesis that copper status affects selenoprotein expression. To this end, hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells and mice were exposed to a variable copper and selenium supply in a physiologically relevant concentration range, and transcript and protein expression as well as GPX and TXNRD activities were compared. Copper suppressed selenoprotein mRNA levels of GPX1 and SELENOW, downregulated GPX and TXNRD activities and decreased UGA recoding efficiency in reporter cells. The interfering effects were successfully suppressed by applying the copper chelators bathocuproinedisulfonic acid or tetrathiomolybdate. In mice, a decreased copper supply moderately decreased the copper status and negatively affected hepatic TXNRD activity. We conclude that there is a hitherto unknown interrelationship between copper and selenium status, and that copper negatively affects selenoprotein expression and activity most probably via limiting UGA recoding. This interference may be of physiological relevance during aging, where a particular shift in the selenium to copper ratio has been reported. An increased concentration of copper in face of a downregulated selenoprotein expression may synergize and negatively affect the cellular redox homeostasis contributing to disease processes.

Gluten-Free Diet in Prisons in Poland: Nutrient Contents and Implementation of Dietary Reference Intake Standards.

The gluten-free diet (GFD) requires special attention from nutritionists due to the potential risk of nutrient deficiencies in its users. This risk may be greater when this type of nutrition is implemented in prisons due to the limited possibilities of external control, a low catering budget for meals, and insufficiently defined recommendations regulating nutrition for prisoners. The aim of the present study was to assess the nutritional value of GFD and regular diet meals served in some Polish prisons and to compare the values to the dietary reference intake (DRI) standards. Using a specialized computer program, 7-day menus of both types of diet provided in 10 prisons were analyzed. The percentage coverage of the DRI was calculated based on the recommendations of the Polish National Food and Nutrition Institute. GFD was characterized by lower average contents of energy and 11 out of 14 essential nutrients, i.e., protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, starch, ash, sodium, calcium, iron, zinc, folate, and vitamin B12. The average content of phosphorus, niacin, and riboflavin in the gluten-free diet was higher than that in the regular diet. It was shown that the meals in GFD and the regular diet did not provide the recommended amounts of calcium (38 and 44% DRI, respectively), vitamin D (29 and 30% DRI), vitamin C (86 and 76% DRI), and folate (51 and 56% DRI). In turn, the supply of sodium, phosphorus, copper, and vitamins A and B6 substantially exceeded the recommended levels. The results indicate a need for greater quality control of GFD meals served in catering facilities. It is also necessary to develop legal provisions that will regulate more specifically the nutrition for prisoners in terms of an adequate supply of minerals and vitamins.

Effects of trace mineral supply from rumen boluses on performance, carcass characteristics, and fecal bacterial profile in beef cattle

The experiment was conducted to evaluate trace mineral supplies of copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), selenium (Se), and iodine (I) using rumen boluses (a slow-release leaching technology) on performance, carcass characteristics, and fecal bacterial profile in beef cattle. Total 36 beef Angus steers were used in a completely randomized block design and received a diet without supplementation of Cu, Co, Se, and I (NCON), a diet supplemented with Cu, Co, Se, and I (PCON), or the NCON diet with rumen boluses providing Cu, Co, Se, and I (Bolus). The experiment consisted of 8 weeks of a backgrounding, 4 weeks of a transitioning, and 12 weeks of a finishing phase. Data collected from the experiment were dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (gain to DMI, kg/kg), and carcass data from individual animals. In the last week of the backgrounding and finishing phase, fecal samples were collected from individual animals and fecal bacterial diversity was determined. All data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. No difference in DMI and growth performance among treatments was observed during the backgrounding phase. Interactions of treatments by week for DMI (P < 0.01) and ADG (P = 0.09) were observed during the finishing phase where DMI and ADG were greater for PCON and Bolus compared with NCON during the first 6 weeks of the finishing phase. Carcass characteristics did not differ among treatments except that Bolus had higher quality grade (P = 0.036) compared with NCON and PCON. During the backgrounding phase, the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was greater (P = 0.026) for Bolus vs. NCON and PCON and that of Treponema was greater (P = 0.01) for PCON vs. NCON and Bolus. During the finishing phase, the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was lower (P = 0.032) for PCON compared with NCON and Bolus without a difference between NCON and Bolus. However, those changes in bacterial diversity during the backgrounding and finishing phases did not influence performance and carcass characteristics of beef steers. In conclusion, trace minerals of Cu, Co, Se, and I need to be provided to meet or exceed the requirements for optimal performance especially during a finishing phase and the trace mineral supply via rumen boluses may have potential to improve a carcass quality grade. In addition, fecal bacterial diversity was altered by trace mineral supply and the method of the supply.

Deregulated High Affinity Copper Transport Alters Iron Homeostasis in Arabidopsis.

The present work describes the effects on iron homeostasis when copper transport was deregulated in Arabidopsis thaliana by overexpressing high affinity copper transporters COPT1 and COPT3 (COPTOE). A genome-wide analysis conducted on COPT1OE plants, highlighted that iron homeostasis gene expression was affected under both copper deficiency and excess. Among the altered genes were those encoding the iron uptake machinery and their transcriptional regulators. Subsequently, COPTOE seedlings contained less iron and were more sensitive than controls to iron deficiency. The deregulation of copper (I) uptake hindered the transcriptional activation of the subgroup Ib of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH-Ib) factors under copper deficiency. Oppositely, copper excess inhibited the expression of the master regulator FIT but activated bHLH-Ib expression in COPTOE plants, in both cases leading to the lack of an adequate iron uptake response. As copper increased in the media, iron (III) was accumulated in roots, and the ratio iron (III)/iron (II) was increased in COPTOE plants. Thus, iron (III) overloading in COPTOE roots inhibited local iron deficiency responses, aimed to metal uptake from soil, leading to a general lower iron content in the COPTOE seedlings. These results emphasized the importance of appropriate spatiotemporal copper uptake for iron homeostasis under non-optimal copper supply. The understanding of the role of copper uptake in iron metabolism could be applied for increasing crops resistance to iron deficiency.

Effects of a Cumulative, Suboptimal Supply of Multiple Trace Elements in Mice: Trace Element Status, Genomic Stability, Inflammation, and Epigenetics.

Trace element (TE) deficiencies often occur accumulated, as nutritional intake is inadequate for several TEs, concurrently. Therefore, the impact of a suboptimal supply of iron, zinc, copper, iodine, and selenium on the TE status, health parameters, epigenetics, and genomic stability in mice are studied. Male mice receive reduced or adequate amounts of TEs for 9 weeks. The TE status is analyzed mass-spectrometrically in serum and different tissues. Furthermore, gene and protein expression of TE biomarkers are assessed with focus on liver. Iron concentrations are most sensitive toward a reduced supply indicated by increased serum transferrin levels and altered hepatic expression of iron-related genes. Reduced TE supply results in smaller weight gain but higher spleen and heart weights. Additionally, inflammatory mediators in serum and liver are increased together with hepatic genomic instability. However, global DNA (hydroxy)methylation is unaffected by the TE modulation. Despite homeostatic regulation of most TEs in response to a low intake, this condition still has substantial effects on health parameters. It appears that the liver and immune system react particularly sensitive toward changes in TE intake. The reduced Fe status might be the primary driver for the observed effects.