In 2013, researchers found that too much copper and not enough zinc in the body causes cells’ tumor suppressor protein p53 to not be able to work well. When zinc consumption is increased, it removes copper from its binding sites on p53, helping reduce copper buildup. This research explains how copper and zinc are antagonists of one another. Decreased amounts of excess copper allow zinc to not be displaced from its normal binding site on p53, saving it from abnormal protein folding and disruption of p53 function.

https://healthtree.org/myeloma/community/articles/high-copper-low-zinc-disrupts-p53