Member of the two-component regulatory system CopS/CopR. Involved in the activation of copper resistance gene operon copABCD. Specifically recognizes or transduces a signal only in response to copper. This would lead to phosphorylation of CopR in the cytoplasm. CopS/CopR may also regulate chromosomally encoded genes. May also be involved in basic copper metabolism. ATP + protein L-histidine = ADP + protein N-phospho-L-histidine.