| Ceruloplasmin Protein | |
|---|---|
| Gene | [CP](/genes/cp) (Ceruloplasmin) |
| UniProt ID | [P00450](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P00450) |
| Alternative Names | Ferroxidase, Caeruloplasmin, Serum Ceruloplasmin |
| Molecular Weight | 151 kDa |
| Subcellular Localization | Secreted, plasma; also membrane-associated |
| Protein Family | Multicopper oxidase family, Ceruloplasmin family |
| PDB Structures | [1KCW](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/entry/pdb/1kcw), [2J5W](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/entry/pdb/2j5w), [4ENZ](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/entry/pdb/4enz) |
Ceruloplasmin (CP) is a blue-green, multifunctional glycoprotein that serves as the major copper carrier in plasma and a critical ferroxidase in iron metabolism. It converts toxic Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ for iron storage and transport. In the brain, ceruloplasmin is produced by astrocytes and plays essential roles in iron homeostasis, oxidative stress protection, and dopamine metabolism. Ceruloplasmin deficiency causes aceruloplasminemia, a devastating neurodegenerative disorder[1].
Ceruloplasmin is a single-chain, 1046-amino acid glycoprotein:
The protein requires copper for proper folding and enzymatic function[2].
In the nervous system, ceruloplasmin is critical for:
This autosomal recessive disorder (CP gene mutations) causes:
Current therapeutic approaches include:
No ceruloplasmin-targeted drugs are in clinical trials for neurodegeneration[^5].
Harris et al., Ceruloplasmin in brain iron metabolism (1999). Journal of Neural Transmission.
Vassiliev et al., Structure of ceruloplasmin (2005). Journal of Molecular Biology.
Miyajima et al., Aceruloplasminemia (2015). Brain & Development.
4延. Boll et al., Ceruloplasmin and Parkinson's disease (2008). Journal of Neural Transmission.
Linder & Hazegh-Azam. Ceruloplasmin and copper in biology. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1996. ↩︎
Bento et al. Copper and ceruloplasmin in neurodegeneration. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 2007. ↩︎
Kono et al. Aceruloplasminemia: molecular characterization. Brain & Development. 2014. ↩︎
Tórsdóttir et al. Ceruloplasmin, iron and copper in Parkinson's disease. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. ↩︎