Three Dose-Dependent Stages of the Effect of Copper Ions on Functional Activity of Biological Systems

A. I. Bozhkov¹

¹Biological Research Institute, Kharkov State University, pl. Svobody 4, Kharkov, 310077 Ukraine; E-mail: bozhkov@geron.kharkov.ua

Submitted June 21, 1996; revision submitted October 13, 1996.

The dose-dependent effects of copper sulfate on the proliferation and functional activity of the genome of liver cells and of algae in vivo and the activity of RNA-polymerase and glucose-6-phosphatase and formation of malonic dialdehyde in vitro was investigated. Administration of various doses of copper sulfate causes three dose-dependent responses of biological systems: a stimulation phase, a latent phase, and a phase of inhibition. The degree of manifestation of the three-phase response depends on the functional activity of the biological system. The consecutive dose-dependent binding of metal ions with components of cells forms the basis of the three-phase response to copper ions.

KEY WORDS: copper, genome, algae, mammals.

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