Sequence analysis of part of a large plasmid carried by Australian environmental isolate of Listeria monocytogenes strain DRDC8 has lead to identification of an islet of genes that encode proteins similar to copper binding and transport genes found in other Gram positive bacteria. Comparative sequence analysis showed that there are at least four genes (pCT0017, pCT0018, pCT0019 and ctpA) on this islet predicted to be involved in copper homeostasis. One of these, ctpA, is predicted to encode a P-type ATPase with a function analogous to CopA, a copper transporting gene in Enterococcus hirae. ORF pCT0017 is likely to be a CopY-like regulatory protein which could control the expression of ctpA. ORF pCT0019 is predicted to be a Cu²⁺ binding protein. In addition, two genes located downstream of the ctpA are predicted to encode a two component regulatory system region. The predicted function of ORF pCT0018 is not clear. A related chromosomal gene (cutR) is predicted to also encode a copper transporting P-type ATPase. To investigate the role of the protein encoded by pCT0018, the growth behavior of L. monocytogenes strain DRDC8, other strains carrying mutations within pCT0018, pCT0019, cutR and ctpA, as well as strains cured of the large plasmid, were grown under conditions of copper stress and starvation. The growth data showed that with the exception of strain DRDC8 and other strains carrying ctpA, most were unable to grow at higher copper concentration (>15 mM CuSO₄) and suggested that the copper homeostasis genes located on the large plasmid are associated with tolerance to high levels of copper. Strain DSE955PL, which carries a cutR mutation and is cured of the large plasmid, was the most sensitive (<5 mM CuSO₄). This indicated that proteins encoded by plasmid genes work synergistically to confer tolerance to copper. Of most interest was the fact that a pCT0018 mutant was more sensitive (<15 mM CuSO₄) to high levels of copper than the wild type parent DRDC8 (<20 mM CuSO₄). This suggested that ORF pCT0018 was necessary for copper tolerance. To investigate the effects of insertion mutations in pCT0017, pCT0018 and ctpA on copper uptake and export, the levels of copper accumulated by these strains was assessed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. A significant difference in copper accumulation among the bacteria strains was observed when either LEB or BHI media were used to culture the bacteria. This data suggested that the growth medium chemicals influence the levels of copper accumulated by cells. However, the effect of these media on bacteria growth rates during copper stress was not significant. Atomic absorption analysis of intracellular copper accumulation suggested that DSE955PL and DSE955 (a chromosome mutant) were able to accumulate copper (80 - 110 mg.gˉ¹ dry weight of cells), whereas DRDC8 and strains carrying mutations in pCT0018, ctpA, and strains cured of the large plasmid, were less able to accumulate copper (30 - 70 mg.gˉ¹ dry weight of cells). This data suggested that cutR may encode a copper export system and that ctpA is involved in copper uptake. To investigate the gene expression profile for pCT0018 under elevated copper, reverse transcriptase PCR was used to detect transcripts encoding pCT0017, pCT0018, pCT0019 and pCT0020 from RNA extracted from L. monocytogenes strain DRDC8 following culture at elevated levels of copper. Although transcripts for each of the target genes were detected, transcription was not responsive to copper, nor was the pattern of transcription consistent with that expected for a single operon. To directly determine whether the protein encoded by the pCT0018 open reading frame was able to bind copper, this gene was cloned in pET15b in frame with an N-terminal Histag and expressed in E. coli. The expressed protein was purified with a Ni-NTA column and shown to contain copper. Attempts to directly show that protein pCT0018 could bind copper by Cu-IMAC were unable to unequivocally show that the protein was immobilized on the column. Purified protein was used to raise a polyclonal antiserum in rabbit and the antiserum was used for Western analysis to test expression of pCT0018 by wild type L. monocytogenes DRDC8 and specific gene mutants. Although the antiserum bound to purified protein, it was not possible to demonstrate binding to native pCT0018 in cell lysates prepared from L. monocytogenes DRDC8. SDS-PAGE of cytoplasmic and cell envelope proteins isolated from L. monocytogenes strains was used to identify proteins expressed in response to copper stress and starvation. No significant differences in protein profiles for cytoplasmic protein were observed. However, copper-immobilized metal affinity chromatography (Cu-IMAC) showed that expression of a number of copper binding proteins were differentially expressed by DRDC8 following growth in copper stress and starvation conditions. Three of these proteins were selected for amino sequence analysis by MALDI-TOFF MS. Two were confirmed to be L. monocytogenes non-heme iron-binding ferritin and a thiol peroxidase, both of which bind copper. The other protein was similar to an unknown protein from L. monocytogenes. Interestingly, no proteins directly implicated with the copper homeostasis islet were identified. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1374407 / Thesis (M.Sc.) - University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2009

Sequence analysis of part of a large plasmid carried by Australian environmental isolate of Listeria monocytogenes strain DRDC8 has lead to identification of an islet of genes that encode proteins similar to copper binding and transport genes found in other Gram positive bacteria. Comparative sequence analysis showed that there are at least four genes (pCT0017, pCT0018, pCT0019 and ctpA) on this islet predicted to be involved in copper homeostasis. One of these, ctpA, is predicted to encode a P-type ATPase with a function analogous to CopA, a copper transporting gene in Enterococcus hirae. ORF pCT0017 is likely to be a CopY-like regulatory protein which could control the expression of ctpA. ORF pCT0019 is predicted to be a Cu²⁺ binding protein. In addition, two genes located downstream of the ctpA are predicted to encode a two component regulatory system region. The predicted function of ORF pCT0018 is not clear. A related chromosomal gene (cutR) is predicted to also encode a copper transporting P-type ATPase. To investigate the role of the protein encoded by pCT0018, the growth behavior of L. monocytogenes strain DRDC8, other strains carrying mutations within pCT0018, pCT0019, cutR and ctpA, as well as strains cured of the large plasmid, were grown under conditions of copper stress and starvation. The growth data showed that with the exception of strain DRDC8 and other strains carrying ctpA, most were unable to grow at higher copper concentration (>15 mM CuSO₄) and suggested that the copper homeostasis genes located on the large plasmid are associated with tolerance to high levels of copper. Strain DSE955PL, which carries a cutR mutation and is cured of the large plasmid, was the most sensitive (<5 mM CuSO₄). This indicated that proteins encoded by plasmid genes work synergistically to confer tolerance to copper. Of most interest was the fact that a pCT0018 mutant was more sensitive (<15 mM CuSO₄) to high levels of copper than the wild type parent DRDC8 (<20 mM CuSO₄). This suggested that ORF pCT0018 was necessary for copper tolerance. To investigate the effects of insertion mutations in pCT0017, pCT0018 and ctpA on copper uptake and export, the levels of copper accumulated by these strains was assessed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. A significant difference in copper accumulation among the bacteria strains was observed when either LEB or BHI media were used to culture the bacteria. This data suggested that the growth medium chemicals influence the levels of copper accumulated by cells. However, the effect of these media on bacteria growth rates during copper stress was not significant. Atomic absorption analysis of intracellular copper accumulation suggested that DSE955PL and DSE955 (a chromosome mutant) were able to accumulate copper (80 - 110 mg.gˉ¹ dry weight of cells), whereas DRDC8 and strains carrying mutations in pCT0018, ctpA, and strains cured of the large plasmid, were less able to accumulate copper (30 - 70 mg.gˉ¹ dry weight of cells). This data suggested that cutR may encode a copper export system and that ctpA is involved in copper uptake. To investigate the gene expression profile for pCT0018 under elevated copper, reverse transcriptase PCR was used to detect transcripts encoding pCT0017, pCT0018, pCT0019 and pCT0020 from RNA extracted from L. monocytogenes strain DRDC8 following culture at elevated levels of copper. Although transcripts for each of the target genes were detected, transcription was not responsive to copper, nor was the pattern of transcription consistent with that expected for a single operon. To directly determine whether the protein encoded by the pCT0018 open reading frame was able to bind copper, this gene was cloned in pET15b in frame with an N-terminal Histag and expressed in E. coli. The expressed protein was purified with a Ni-NTA column and shown to contain copper. Attempts to directly show that protein pCT0018 could bind copper by Cu-IMAC were unable to unequivocally show that the protein was immobilized on the column. Purified protein was used to raise a polyclonal antiserum in rabbit and the antiserum was used for Western analysis to test expression of pCT0018 by wild type L. monocytogenes DRDC8 and specific gene mutants. Although the antiserum bound to purified protein, it was not possible to demonstrate binding to native pCT0018 in cell lysates prepared from L. monocytogenes DRDC8. SDS-PAGE of cytoplasmic and cell envelope proteins isolated from L. monocytogenes strains was used to identify proteins expressed in response to copper stress and starvation. No significant differences in protein profiles for cytoplasmic protein were observed. However, copper-immobilized metal affinity chromatography (Cu-IMAC) showed that expression of a number of copper binding proteins were differentially expressed by DRDC8 following growth in copper stress and starvation conditions. Three of these proteins were selected for amino sequence analysis by MALDI-TOFF MS. Two were confirmed to be L. monocytogenes non-heme iron-binding ferritin and a thiol peroxidase, both of which bind copper. The other protein was similar to an unknown protein from L. monocytogenes. Interestingly, no proteins directly implicated with the copper homeostasis islet were identified. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1374407 / Thesis (M.Sc.) - University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2009

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed June 23, 2008). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-124).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-12-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:22:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bernardi_aca_dr_arafcf.pdf: 1525508 bytes, checksum: c65f0bdce77e95dac615f5ee33dd6287 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Os Staphylococcus coagulase-negativa, particularmente, os Staphylococcus epidermidis são a causa mais freqüente de infecções relacionadas ao cateter por sua habilidade em aderir a uma superfície e entre si (aderência intercelular) formando biofilme em multicamadas sobre superfícies de polímeros. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar cepas hospitalares de Staphylococcus coagulasenegativa isoladas de cateteres intravenosos, quanto à resistência a oxacilina, produção de slime, aderência ao poliestireno, habilidade de formar biofilme sobre superfícies abióticas (cateter esterilizado) e a presença de genes icaAD. Na presente pesquisa, a presença de icaA e icaD foi determinada pelo método PCR, em uma coleção de 27 amostras Staphylococcus coagulase-negativa (10 Staphylococcus epidermidis, 4 S. haemolyticus, 2 S. hominis, 2 S. lugdunensis, 1 S. saprophyticus, 1 S. schleiferi, 2 S. xylosus e 4 S. warneri). Os genes icaAD foram detectados em dez cepas S. epidermidis... / Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, particularly, Staphylococcus epidermidis are frequent cause of infections associated with catheters and is attributed to the attachment ability on a surface and each other (intercellular adhesion) forming a multilayered biofilm on polymeric surfaces. The objective of the present study was to evaluate coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strains isolated from intravenous catheters by oxacillin resistance, slime production (qualitative method) and spectrophotometric assay (quantitative method), ability to form biofilm on abiotic surfaces (steriled catheter) and the presence of icaAD genes. In the present study icaA and icaD were determined by PCR method, in a collection of 27 coagulasenegative Staphylococcus (10 Staphylococcus epidermidis, 4 S. haemolyticus, 2 S. hominis, 2 S. lugdunensis, 1 S. saprophyticus, 1 S. schleiferi, 2 S. xylosus and 4 S. warneri). The icaA genes were detected in nine S. epidermidis and icaD in ten. The slime-producing ability was determined by culture on Congo red agar plates in which slime-producing strains formed black colonies in 10 S. epidermidis, 4 S.haemolyticus, 4 S. warneri, 2 S. xylosus and 1 S. chromogenes, while nonslimeformingones develop red colonies. The quantitative assay of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was observed in 19 strains, including: 10 S. epidermidis, 3 S.haemolyticus, 3 S. warneri, 2 S. xylosus, 1 S. chromogenes. The ability of coagulasenegative Staphylococcus to form biofilm embedded in an amorphous substance wasobserved by scanning electronic microscope on abiotic surface in 10 S. epidermidis,3 S. haemolyticus, 2 S. hominis, 2 S. lugdunensis, 1 S. saprophyticus, 1 S. schleiferi,2 S. xylosus and 3 S. warneri. The oxacillin resistance was observed in 9 strains S.epidermidis, 3 S. haemolyticus, 3 S. warneri, 1 S. xylosus and 1 S. chromogenes. All strains of staphylococci were susceptible... (Complete abstract, click eletronic address below)

Entre as doenças causadas por bactérias do gênero Mycobacterium, a tuberculose por M. tuberculosis é a mais conhecida. O diagnóstico da doença é feito utilizando-se um conjunto de exames que possibilitam a identificação da mesma (WATT, 2000). Contudo, sabe-se que o diagnóstico combinado de microscopia direta e com o posterior isolamento em meio de cultivo é o “padrão-ouro”. A principal desvantagem desse método é que tal bactéria possui um crescimento lento (cerca de 8 semanas). Recentemente, a detecção de doenças através da técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) tem proporcionado avanços significativos no diagnóstico. O uso da amplificação específica de genes, para identificar a M. tuberculosis, tais como rDNA 16S, IS6110 ou a região intergênica senX3-regX3, tem apresentado algumas restrições, ao nível de confiabilidade e sensibilidade, para a aplicação da técnica de PCR. O presente estudo mostra a construção e a aplicação de um novo alvo para a aplicação da PCR no diagnóstico da tuberculose, baseado no ensaio da diferença de organização gênica do operon plcA, B e C diferenciando a M. tuberculosis das demais micobactérias. Neste trabalho, foram examinadas 273 amostras de pacientes com suspeita de tuberculose, sendo estas submetidas ao estudo comparativo da técnica de PCR versus cultivo (padrão ouro). A PCR amplificou fragmentos de 439pb. Os resultados mostram 93,7% de acurácia para PCR/Cultivo (p<000,1), 93,1% de sensibilidade com intervalo de confiança de 88,7-96,0 e especificidade de 96,4% com intervalo de confiança de 96,4-99,4. O valor da estatística Kappa (k) foi de 0,82 com erro padrão de 0,041, demonstrando um alinhamento quase perfeito para a verificação do grau de concordância entre os testes. Desta forma, o uso desta nova região para a amplificação da PCR se mostra uma importante e confiável ferramenta no diagnóstico específico da tuberculose. Outra região que compreende parte dos genes mbaA e inhA foi utilizada para diferenciar o Complexo tuberculosis do Complexo avium. Porém, novos experimentos serão necessários para o emprego desta região como uma ferramenta de diagnóstico.

Entre as doenças causadas por bactérias do gênero Mycobacterium, a tuberculose por M. tuberculosis é a mais conhecida. O diagnóstico da doença é feito utilizando-se um conjunto de exames que possibilitam a identificação da mesma (WATT, 2000). Contudo, sabe-se que o diagnóstico combinado de microscopia direta e com o posterior isolamento em meio de cultivo é o “padrão-ouro”. A principal desvantagem desse método é que tal bactéria possui um crescimento lento (cerca de 8 semanas). Recentemente, a detecção de doenças através da técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) tem proporcionado avanços significativos no diagnóstico. O uso da amplificação específica de genes, para identificar a M. tuberculosis, tais como rDNA 16S, IS6110 ou a região intergênica senX3-regX3, tem apresentado algumas restrições, ao nível de confiabilidade e sensibilidade, para a aplicação da técnica de PCR. O presente estudo mostra a construção e a aplicação de um novo alvo para a aplicação da PCR no diagnóstico da tuberculose, baseado no ensaio da diferença de organização gênica do operon plcA, B e C diferenciando a M. tuberculosis das demais micobactérias. Neste trabalho, foram examinadas 273 amostras de pacientes com suspeita de tuberculose, sendo estas submetidas ao estudo comparativo da técnica de PCR versus cultivo (padrão ouro). A PCR amplificou fragmentos de 439pb. Os resultados mostram 93,7% de acurácia para PCR/Cultivo (p<000,1), 93,1% de sensibilidade com intervalo de confiança de 88,7-96,0 e especificidade de 96,4% com intervalo de confiança de 96,4-99,4. O valor da estatística Kappa (k) foi de 0,82 com erro padrão de 0,041, demonstrando um alinhamento quase perfeito para a verificação do grau de concordância entre os testes. Desta forma, o uso desta nova região para a amplificação da PCR se mostra uma importante e confiável ferramenta no diagnóstico específico da tuberculose. Outra região que compreende parte dos genes mbaA e inhA foi utilizada para diferenciar o Complexo tuberculosis do Complexo avium. Porém, novos experimentos serão necessários para o emprego desta região como uma ferramenta de diagnóstico.

Entre as doenças causadas por bactérias do gênero Mycobacterium, a tuberculose por M. tuberculosis é a mais conhecida. O diagnóstico da doença é feito utilizando-se um conjunto de exames que possibilitam a identificação da mesma (WATT, 2000). Contudo, sabe-se que o diagnóstico combinado de microscopia direta e com o posterior isolamento em meio de cultivo é o “padrão-ouro”. A principal desvantagem desse método é que tal bactéria possui um crescimento lento (cerca de 8 semanas). Recentemente, a detecção de doenças através da técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) tem proporcionado avanços significativos no diagnóstico. O uso da amplificação específica de genes, para identificar a M. tuberculosis, tais como rDNA 16S, IS6110 ou a região intergênica senX3-regX3, tem apresentado algumas restrições, ao nível de confiabilidade e sensibilidade, para a aplicação da técnica de PCR. O presente estudo mostra a construção e a aplicação de um novo alvo para a aplicação da PCR no diagnóstico da tuberculose, baseado no ensaio da diferença de organização gênica do operon plcA, B e C diferenciando a M. tuberculosis das demais micobactérias. Neste trabalho, foram examinadas 273 amostras de pacientes com suspeita de tuberculose, sendo estas submetidas ao estudo comparativo da técnica de PCR versus cultivo (padrão ouro). A PCR amplificou fragmentos de 439pb. Os resultados mostram 93,7% de acurácia para PCR/Cultivo (p<000,1), 93,1% de sensibilidade com intervalo de confiança de 88,7-96,0 e especificidade de 96,4% com intervalo de confiança de 96,4-99,4. O valor da estatística Kappa (k) foi de 0,82 com erro padrão de 0,041, demonstrando um alinhamento quase perfeito para a verificação do grau de concordância entre os testes. Desta forma, o uso desta nova região para a amplificação da PCR se mostra uma importante e confiável ferramenta no diagnóstico específico da tuberculose. Outra região que compreende parte dos genes mbaA e inhA foi utilizada para diferenciar o Complexo tuberculosis do Complexo avium. Porém, novos experimentos serão necessários para o emprego desta região como uma ferramenta de diagnóstico.

Submitted by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2016-12-06T14:08:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Vanessa C. Franco.pdf: 1623704 bytes, checksum: 8f262fad29d3dfa20d8ab93f9518f274 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2016-12-06T14:08:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Vanessa C. Franco.pdf: 1623704 bytes, checksum: 8f262fad29d3dfa20d8ab93f9518f274 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2016-12-06T14:08:48Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Vanessa C. Franco.pdf: 1623704 bytes, checksum: 8f262fad29d3dfa20d8ab93f9518f274 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-06T14:08:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Vanessa C. Franco.pdf: 1623704 bytes, checksum: 8f262fad29d3dfa20d8ab93f9518f274 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-25 / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Alkaline phosphatase function is to catalyze the hydrolysis of a phosphomonoester, and thus has the property of removing phosphate groups 5' DNA and RNA, making it an important tool for genetic engineering. Expression of the E. coli alkaline phosphatase gene was obtained by cloning the gene into plasmid pBR322. Subsequently phoA structural gene was transferred to the vector pAC92 derivative of pUC18 where its expression was regulated partly yielding the recombinant plasmid capable of programming in E. coli highest level of expression. But this vector has the need to control the expression with glucose medium, otherwise the excess of the enzyme in the periplasm causes cell death of the host. In work carried out in the Laboratory of Technologies of DNA called a vector UFAM Pula was built from obtaining pAC92 promoter region, restored operator, cloned in a vector called pUN, this being the modified pUC18 lacking the gene for β - galactosidase and without its promoter region / operator of origin. This paper describes the expression of the alkaline phosphatase of E. coli by means of the adjustable jumps expression system and purification of this enzyme. Thus, the phoA gene was subcloned into the vector jumps successfully, yielding the vector pUNF, which appeared stable and functional, regulated by the induction of IPTG. The best expression of the enzyme in the system in question occurred in the middle with a concentration of 0.05 % glucose, with 1 mM IPTG and after 18 hours of induction. / A fosfatase alcalina tem como função catalisar a hidrólise de um fosfomonoéster, e assim, possui a propriedade de remover grupos de fosfatos 5’ de DNA e RNA, o que faz dela uma importante ferramenta para engenharia genética. A expressão do gene da fosfatase alcalina de E. coli foi obtida clonando-se o gene no plasmídeo pBR322. Posteriormente o gene estrutural phoA foi transferido para o vetor pAC92, derivado do pUC18, onde sua expressão ficou parcialmente regulada, originando o plasmídeo recombinante capaz de programar em E. coli maior nível de expressão. Porém este vetor possui a necessidade do controle da expressão com glicose no meio, do contrário, o excesso da enzima no periplasma causa a morte celular das hospedeiras. Em trabalhos desenvolvidos no Laboratório de Tecnologias de DNA da UFAM um vetor denominado pULA foi construído a partir da obtenção da região promotora do pAC92, com operador restaurado, clonado em um vetor denominado de pUN, este sendo o pUC18 modificado sem o gene de β–galactosidase e sem sua região promotora/operadora de origem. O presente trabalho descreve a expressão da fosfatase alcalina de E. coli por meio do sistema de expressão regulável do pULA, assim como a purificação desta enzima. Dessa forma, o gene phoA foi subclonado no vetor pULA com sucesso, dando origem ao vetor pUNF, que se apresentou estável e funcional, regulado pela indução do IPTG. A melhor expressão da enzima no sistema em questão, ocorreu em meio com concentração de 0,05% de glicose, com um 1mM de IPTG e após 18 horas de indução.

Any metal in excess can be toxic; therefore, metal homeostasis is critical to bacterial survival. Bacteria have developed specialized metal import and export systems for this purpose. For broadly toxic metals such as copper, bacteria have evolved only export systems. The copper export system (cop operon) usually consists of the operon repressor, the copper chaperone, and the copper exporter. In Streptococcus pneumoniae, the causative agent of pneumonia, otitis media, sepsis, and meningitis, little is known about operon regulation. This is partly due to the S. pneumoniae repressor, CopY, and copper chaperone, CupA, sharing limited homology to proteins of putative related function and confirmed established systems. In this study, we examined CopY metal crosstalk, CopY interactions with CupA, and how CupA can control the oxidation state of copper. We found that CopY bound zinc and increased the DNA-binding affinity of CopY by roughly an order of magnitude over that of the apo form of CopY. Once copper displaced zinc in CopY, resulting in operon activation, CupA chelated copper from CopY. After copper was acquired from CopY or other sources, if needed, CupA facilitated the reduction of Cu2+ to Cu1+, which is the exported copper state. Taken together, these data show novel mechanisms for copper processing in S. pneumoniae. IMPORTANCE As mechanisms of copper toxicity are emerging, bacterial processing of intracellular copper, specifically inside Streptococcus pneumoniae, remains unclear. In this study, we investigated two proteins encoded by the copper export operon: the repressor, CopY, and the copper chaperone, CupA. Zinc suppressed transcription of the copper export operon by increasing the affinity of CopY for DNA. Furthermore, CupA was able to chelate copper from CopY not bound to DNA and reduce it from Cu2+ to Cu1+. This reduced copper state is essential for bacterial copper export via CopA. In view of the fact that innate immune cells use copper to kill pathogenic bacteria, understanding the mechanisms of copper export could expose new small-molecule therapeutic targets that could work synergistically with copper against pathogenic bacteria.