title: Copper comes of age in Melbourne.
abstract: When we were asked to produce articles for this volume, it seemed appropriate to us to co-author an article on the history and impact of copper research in Melbourne. It is appropriate because over many years, decades in fact, we worked closely together and with Professor David Danks to identify the molecular defect in Menkes disease. This work was always carried out with the intention of understanding the nature of the copper homeostatic mechanisms and a "copper pathway" in the cell, that David had the prescience to predict must exist despite scepticism from granting agencies! He indeed inspired us to pursue research careers in this field. This article outlines some of this history.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Australia. jmercer@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Julian F B
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camakaris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007706:Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D003300:Copper