Copper homeostasis protein cutC homolog (CUTC)

Copper homeostasis protein cutC homolog (CUTC) is a human intracellular protein of the Cut family, with a TIM-barrel fold and tetrameric structure that binds cuprous ion (Cu(I)) at a specific site involving conserved cysteine residues. Recent biochemical and structural analyses demonstrate that human CUTC does not function primarily as a membrane copper transporter; instead, it acts as a copper-binding enzyme, with Cu(I) serving as a cofactor. CUTC plays a role in copper homeostasis and intracellular trafficking/metabolism and may safeguard cells from copper-induced cytotoxicity, as silencing CUTC increases apoptotic effects in cells exposed to copper stress. The physiological functions remain incompletely defined, and disease associations have not been robustly characterized. There are currently no known drugs targeting CUTC directly, and its primary significance is in basic copper metabolism and cellular health, rather than as an established clinical therapeutic target.

Other names

cutC copper transportercopper homeostasis protein cutC homologCUTCCGI-32CutC protein, humancutC copper transporter homolog

Not established; no known drugs targeting CUTC