Deficiency Causes excess zinc elevated levels of zinc induce increased expression of metallothionein metallothionein functions to bind various metals preventing their absorption into the body and sequesters them in intestinal cells metallothionein has a greater affinity for copper than zinc increased levels of metallothionein result in binding and sequesting of copper leading to a copper deficiency Symptoms a function of what enzymes require copper ferroxidase catalyzes oxidation of iron from Fe2+ to Fe3+ result is microcytic anemia lysyl oxidase crosslinks collagen fibers result is poor wound healing aortic dissection Disorders in copper handling Wilson's disease Menke’s disease X-linked gene mutation in ATP7A ATP-dependent copper efflux protein aka Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IX inability of enterocytes to release absorbed copper copper at toxic levels in small intestine and kidneys copper in circulation and in brain at low levels symptoms presents like a copper deficiency seizures, failure to thrive, neurodegeneration steel-colored and brittle hair due to role of copper in metalloprotein lysyl oxidase which cross links collagen for added strength at low serum concentrations of copper this enzyme cannot function