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Selenoproteins
In molecular biology a selenoprotein is any protein that includes a selenocysteine (Sec, U, Se-Cys) amino acid residue. Among functionally characterized selenoproteins are five glutathione peroxidases (GPX) and three thioredoxin reductases, (TrxR/TXNRD) which both contain only one Sec. Selenoprotein P is the most common selenoprotein found in the plasma. It is unusual because in humans it contains 10 Sec residues, which are split into two domains, a longer N-terminal domain that contains 1 Sec, and a shorter C-terminal domain that contains 9 Sec. The longer N-terminal domain is likely an enzymatic domain, and the shorter C-terminal domain is likely a means of safely transporting the very reactive selenium atom throughout the body. Species distribution Selenoproteins exist in all major domains of life, eukaryotes, bacteria and archaea. Among eukaryotes, selenoproteins appear to be common in animals, but rare or absent in other phyla—one has been identified in the green alga '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Selenocysteine
Selenocysteine (symbol Sec or U, in older publications also as Se-Cys) is the 21st proteinogenic amino acid. Selenoproteins contain selenocysteine residues. Selenocysteine is an analogue of the more common cysteine with selenium in place of the sulfur. Selenocysteine is present in several enzymes (for example glutathione peroxidases, tetraiodothyronine 5 deiodinase, tetraiodothyronine 5′ deiodinases, thioredoxin reductases, formate dehydrogenases, glycine reductases, selenophosphate synthetase 2, methionine-''R''-sulfoxide reductase B1 (SEPX1), and some hydrogenases). It occurs in all three Domain (biology), domains of life, including important enzymes (listed above) present in humans. Selenocysteine was discovered in 1974 by biochemist Thressa Stadtman at the National Institutes of Health. Chemistry Selenocysteine is the Se-analogue of cysteine. It is rarely encountered outside of living tissue (nor is it available commercially) because of its high susceptiblility to air-oxi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
SECISBP2
SECIS-binding protein 2 (commonly referred to as SBP2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''SECISBP2'' gene. Function The incorporation of selenocysteine into a protein requires the concerted action of an mRNA element called a sec insertion sequence ( SECIS), a selenocysteine-specific translation elongation factor and a SECIS binding protein. With these elements in place, a UGA codon can be decoded as selenocysteine. SBP2 is a nuclear protein that functions as a SECIS binding protein, but experimental evidence indicates that SBP2 is cytoplasmic. Clinical significance Mutations in this gene have been associated with a reduction in activity of a specific thyroxine deiodinase, a selenocysteine-containing enzyme, and abnormal thyroid hormone File:Thyroid_system.svg, upright=1.5, The thyroid system of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine, T3 and T4 rect 376 268 820 433 Thyroid-stimulating hormone rect 411 200 849 266 Thyrotropin-releasing hormone rect 297 168 502 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glutathione Peroxidase
Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) () is the general name of an enzyme family with peroxidase activity whose main biological role is to protect the organism from oxidative damage. The biochemical function of glutathione peroxidase is to reduce lipid hydroperoxides to their corresponding alcohols and to reduce free hydrogen peroxide to water. Glutathione peroxidase was discovered in 1957 by Gordon C. Mills. Reaction The main reaction that glutathione peroxidase catalyzes is: : 2GSH + H2O2 → GS–SG + 2H2O where GSH represents reduced monomeric glutathione, and GS–SG represents glutathione disulfide. The mechanism involves oxidation of the selenol of a selenocysteine residue by hydrogen peroxide. This process gives the derivative with a selenenic acid (RSeOH) group. The selenenic acid is then converted back to the selenol by a two step process that begins with reaction with GSH to form the GS-SeR and water. A second GSH molecule reduces the GS-SeR intermediate back to t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
SECIS Element
In biology, the SECIS element (SECIS: ''selenocysteine insertion sequence'') is an RNA element around 60 nucleotides in length that adopts a stem-loop structure. This structural motif (pattern of nucleotides) directs the cell to translate UGA codons as selenocysteines (UGA is normally a stop codon). SECIS elements are thus a fundamental aspect of messenger RNAs encoding selenoproteins, proteins that include one or more selenocysteine residues. Location and function In bacteria the SECIS element appears soon after the UGA codon it affects. In archaea and eukaryotes, it occurs in the 3' UTR of an mRNA, and can cause multiple UGA codons within the mRNA to code for selenocysteine. One archaeal SECIS element, in '' Methanococcus,'' is located in the 5' UTR. In any case, it serves to recruit EEFSEC or SelB, the specialized homolog of EF-Tu/eEF1&alpha, with the ability to read tRNASec. Characteristics The SECIS elements appear defined by sequence characteristics (parti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Selenium
Selenium is a chemical element; it has symbol (chemistry), symbol Se and atomic number 34. It has various physical appearances, including a brick-red powder, a vitreous black solid, and a grey metallic-looking form. It seldom occurs in this elemental state or as pure ore compounds in Earth's crust. Selenium ( ) was discovered in 1817 by , who noted the similarity of the new element to the previously discovered tellurium (named for the Earth). Selenium is found in :Sulfide minerals, metal sulfide ores, where it substitutes for sulfur. Commercially, selenium is produced as a byproduct in the refining of these ores. Minerals that are pure selenide or selenate compounds are rare. The chief commercial uses for selenium today are glassmaking and pigments. Selenium is a semiconductor and is used in photocells. Applications in electronics, once important, have been mostly replaced with silicon semiconductor devices. Selenium is still used in a few types of Direct current, DC power surge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
TRNA
Transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA), formerly referred to as soluble ribonucleic acid (sRNA), is an adaptor molecule composed of RNA, typically 76 to 90 nucleotides in length (in eukaryotes). In a cell, it provides the physical link between the genetic code in messenger RNA (mRNA) and the amino acid sequence of proteins, carrying the correct sequence of amino acids to be combined by the protein-synthesizing machinery, the ribosome. Each three-nucleotide codon in mRNA is complemented by a three-nucleotide anticodon in tRNA. As such, tRNAs are a necessary component of translation, the biological synthesis of new proteins in accordance with the genetic code. Overview The process of translation starts with the information stored in the nucleotide sequence of DNA. This is first transformed into mRNA, then tRNA specifies which three-nucleotide codon from the genetic code corresponds to which amino acid. Each mRNA codon is recognized by a particular type of tRNA, which docks to it along ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Serine
Serine (symbol Ser or S) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an α- amino group (which is in the protonated − form under biological conditions), a carboxyl group (which is in the deprotonated − form under biological conditions), and a side chain consisting of a hydroxymethyl group, classifying it as a polar amino acid. It can be synthesized in the human body under normal physiological circumstances, making it a nonessential amino acid. It is encoded by the codons UCU, UCC, UCA, UCG, AGU and AGC. Occurrence This compound is one of the proteinogenic amino acids. Only the L- stereoisomer appears naturally in proteins. It is not essential to the human diet, since it is synthesized in the body from other metabolites, including glycine. Serine was first obtained from silk protein, a particularly rich source, in 1865 by Emil Cramer. Its name is derived from the Latin for silk, '' sericum''. Serine's structure was established in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
L-seryl-tRNASec Selenium Transferase
In enzymology, a L-seryl-tRNASec selenium transferase () is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction :L-seryl-tRNASec + selenophosphate \rightleftharpoons L-selenocysteinyl-tRNASec + phosphate Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are L-seryl-tRNASec and selenophosphate, whereas its two products are L-selenocysteinyl-tRNASec and phosphate. This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those transferring selenium-containing groups selenotransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is selenophosphate:L-seryl-tRNASec selenium transferase. Other names in common use include L-selenocysteinyl-tRNASel synthase, L-selenocysteinyl-tRNASec synthase selenocysteine synthase, cysteinyl-tRNASec-selenium transferase, and cysteinyl-tRNASec-selenium transferase. This enzyme participates in selenoamino acid metabolism. It employs one cofactor, pyridoxal phosphate Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, P5P), the active form of vitamin B6 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Selenophosphate
A selenophosphate is a chemical compound containing phosphate anions substituted with selenium. Over 7000 compounds are known with a bond between selenium and phosphorus. Compared to phosphorus-sulfur compounds selenophosphates are less thermally stable, and more easily destroyed by water. However they are more stable than tellurophosphates which have an even weaker phosphorus-tellurium bond. Selenophosphates have an oxidation number for phosphorus of +5. But in many there are bonds between phosphorus atoms, reducing the oxidation state to +4, Some may be termed selenophosphites. Different structural anions include hexaselenohypodiphosphate 2Se6sup>4− and 6Se12sup>4− with decalin structure and 4Se2sup>2− with dicyclobutane structure. Selenophosphates are coloured, often orange. They are semiconductors. The first selenodiphosphate was discovered in 1973 by H. Hahn. Selenophosphate compounds may have some or all of the selenium replaced by sulfur. Formation Selenophosph ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
EEF-1
eEF-1 are two eukaryotic elongation factors. It forms two complexes, the EF-Tu homolog EF-1A and the EF-Ts homolog EF-1B, the former's guanide exchange factor. Both are also found in archaea. Structure The nomenclature for the eEF-1 subunits have somewhat shifted around circa 2001, as it was recognized that the EF-1A and EF-1B complexes are to some extent independent of each other. Components as currently recognized and named include: The precise manner eEF1B subunit attaches onto eEF1A varies by organ and species. eEF1A also binds actin. Other species Various species of green algae, red algae, chromalveolates, and fungi lack the EF-1α gene but instead possess a related gene called EFL (elongation factor-like). Although its function has not been studied in depth, it appears to be similar to EF-1α. , only two organisms are known to have both EF-1α and EFL: the fungus '' Basidiobolus'' and the diatom ''Thalassiosira''. The evolutionary history of EFL is unclear. It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
SEPSECS0
O-phosphoseryl-tRNA(Sec) selenium transferase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''SEPSECS'' gene In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei .... References Further reading * * * {{gene-4-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
