Copper intoxication and disturbance of copper metabolism induced various oxygen-derived free radicals related damages. The effect of copper ion on xanthine oxidase activity and type conversion of the enzyme which is concerned to generation of reactive oxygen species, was investigated, It was observed that xanthine oxidase activity was increased by addition of copper ion in the reaction mixture in proportional to the concentration of the metal ion until $60;{mu}M$, while the enzyme activity was inhibited in higher concentration of copper treatment. On the other hand, xanthine dehydrogenase activity was inhibited by copper ion addition with concentration dependently. Preincubation of enzyme source with $30;{mu}M$ of copper ion, which concentration marked increased the xanthine oxidase activity, unchanged the enzyme activity and type conversion compare to control in vitro system. It was also observed that copper induced xanthine oxidase activity and the enzyme type conversion was protected by dithiothreitol and penicillamine. These results indicate that the increment of the type conversion of xanthine oxidase necessarilly need the presence of copper ion in enzyme assay system.