Ceruloplasmin (or caeruloplasmin) is a ferroxidase enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CP gene. Ceruloplasmin is the major copper-carrying protein in the blood, and in addition plays a role in iron metabolism. It was first described in 1948. Another protein, hephaestin, is noted for its homology to ceruloplasmin, and also participates in iron and probably copper metabolism. Function Ceruloplasmin (CP) is an enzyme () synthesized in the liver containing 6 atoms of copper in its structure. Ceruloplasmin carries more than 95% of the total copper in healthy human plasma. The rest is accounted for by macroglobulins. Ceruloplasmin exhibits a copper-dependent oxidase activity, which is associated with possible oxidation of Fe2+ (ferrous iron) into Fe3+ (ferric iron), therefore assisting in its transport in the plasma in association with transferrin, which can carry iron only in the ferric state. The molecular weight of human ceruloplasmin is reported to be 151kDa. Despite extensive research, much is still unknown about the exact functions of CP, most of the functions are attributed to CP focus on the presence of the Cu centers. These include copper transport to deliver the Cu to extrahepatic tissues, amine oxidase activity that controls the level of biogenic amines in intestinal fluids and plasma, removal of oxygen and other free radicals from plasma, and the export of iron from cells for transport through transferrin. Mutations have been known to disrupt the binding of copper to CP and will disrupt iron metabolism and cause an iron overload. Ceruloplasmin is a relatively large enzyme (~10nm); the larger size prevents the bound copper from being lost in a person's urine during transport. Active site structure The multicopper active site of CP contains a type I (T1) mononuclear copper site and a trinuclear copper center ~ 12-13 Å away (see figure 2). The tricopper center consists of two type III (T3) coppers and one type II (T2) copper ion. The two T3 copper ions are bridged by a hydroxide ligand while another hydroxide ligand links the T2 copper ion to the protein. The T1 center is bridged to the tricopper center by two histidine (His1020, His1022) residues and one Cys(1021) residue. The substrate binds near the T1 center and is oxidized by the T1 Cu2+ ion forming the reduced Cu+ oxidation state. The reduced T1 Cu+ then transfers the electron through the one Cys and two His bridging residues to the tricopper center.