Selenium-dependent selenoprotein synthesis machinery

Selenium plays an essential role in the biosynthesis of selenoproteins, a unique class of proteins that incorporate selenocysteine (Sec), known as the 21st amino acid[1][4][5]. Selenocysteine incorporation into proteins occurs cotranslationally at in-frame UGA codons, which are normally stop codons, using a specialized set of factors including a Sec-specific tRNA, the SECIS (selenocysteine insertion sequence) element in mRNA, and several unique translation factors[1][2][3][4]. This process is strictly dependent on available selenium, and a hierarchy of selenoprotein expression exists under selenium-limiting conditions[4][5]. Dysregulation of selenoprotein synthesis can contribute to diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and infertility[2][3]. Direct pharmacologic targeting of this pathway is not a current therapeutic strategy, but selenium supplementation is used to address dietary deficiency.

Other names

Selenium in selenoprotein biosynthesisSelenocysteine incorporation pathwaySelenoprotein synthesis process