Under low copper conditions, represses the expression of lpqS, Rv2963, mymT, socA, socB, mmcO and its own expression. In the presence of copper, RicR dissociates from DNA, leading to the expression of the target genes. Members of the RicR regulon are important for copper resistance during infections and full virulence in a mouse model of infection. Negatively autoregulated. Induced by copper. Disruption of the gene results in the constitutive expression of the entire RicR regulon and hyper-resistance of the cell to copper. Constitutive repression of the RicR regulon by a 'copper-blind' RicR results in extreme copper sensitivity in vitro and attenuation of virulence in mice. Belongs to the CsoR family.