1. D. Steiger, M. Fetchko, A. Vardanyan, L. Atanesyan, K. Steiner, M. L. Turski, D. J. Thiele, O. Georgiev and W. Schaffner (2010) The Drosophila copper transporter Ctr1C functions in male fertility. J Biol Chem 285(22): 17089-97.
Abstract Living organisms have evolved intricate systems to harvest trace elements from the environment, to control their intracellular levels, and to ensure adequate delivery to the various organs and cellular compartments. Copper is one of these trace elements. It is at the same time essential for life but also highly toxic, not least because it facilitates the generation of reactive oxygen species. In mammals, copper uptake in the intestine and copper delivery into other organs are mediated by the copper importer Ctr1. Drosophila has three Ctr1 homologs PMID: [20351114]