Molecular mechanisms of copper tolerance and co-bioremediation of copper contaminated environment
生物耐铜的分子机理及铜污染环境的生物联合修复

Copper is a well-known micro-nutrient that human, animals and plants need, and abnormal phenomena will be appeared under Cu deficient or toxic levels. Along with the fast economical development in China, industrial and agricultural events had resulted in severe soil Cu contamination, and Cu contamination in soil has now become one of the most serious problems. The paper gave a brief idea on mechanisms of copper metabolism in organisms at molecular level and the advances of co-bioremediation of copper contamination were also discussed. Copper homeostasis plays a key role in copper metabolism in organisms. Uptake, distribution, detoxification, and regulators of copper in plants, bacteria and fungi were highlighted. The molecular mechanism of copper detoxification in earthworm, a model animal to understand heavy metal detoxification in soil, was also briefly discussed. The understanding of copper homeostasis in plant, microbe and fauna might be helpful for research on molecular mechanism of bioremediation of Cu contaminated soils.