Copper

and zinc, copper is also an essential micronutrient metal for all higher living organisms - the same is not true for microorganisms. Mainly involved in redox reactions and in protein synthesis, for example for the production of certain enzymes, it plays a fundamental role in the human organism for the constitution of the respiratory biological catalyst cytochrome C oxidase - also known as complex IV, EC 1.9.3.1. The body of an adult contains 1.4 - 2.1 milligrams of copper per kilogram of weight and the richest tissues are: liver, muscle and bone parenchyma.