Selenium Flashcards
Selenium shares chemical properties with what element?
Sulfur
How much selenium is needed
55 MICROgrams
What foods are high in Se?
Brazil nuts,
Why are brazil nuts high in Se?
It depends on the Se concentrations in soil
What are the Plan food forms of Se?
Selenomethionine and selenocysteine
What are the animal food forms of Se?
Selenocysteine
How are Organic forms of Se absorbed in the intestine?
Like AA via AA transporters
How are inorganic forms of Se absorbed?
Not known
Are selenomethionine and selenocysteine transported differently?
No
In Se deficiency what happens to absorption?
Nothing. Rate stays the same.
What is another name for Selenocytsteine?
The 21st Amino acid
Selenocysteine (Sec) occurs in how many proteins in the human proteome?
25 proteins
Conventional cysteine can do what that Sec can do?
fulfills a chemical function
What makes Sec different from other AA?
It is not coded for directly in the genetic code. It relies on independent SEC insertion machinery
What does SECIS stand for?
SelenoCysteine insertion sequence
What is SECIS?
A stemloop structure in the mRNA
How is sec put into proteins?
When an mRNA codes for UGA, the SECIS element binds to a SECIS binding protein which binds to elongation factors which is bound to a tRNA which will bring Sec in for UGA and keep moving.
The functions of the selenoproteins that we do know function in what?
antioxidant and anabolic processes
What is Selenoprotein P (SELP)?
Major Se transport protein
Accounts for 80% of plasma Se
Where SELP produced?
Liver
How many Se can SELP hold?
10 atoms/ molecule
What is a side function of SELP?
As an antioxidant for peroxynitrite radicals
What happens if you KO SELP?
Mice have neurological problems and trouble walking
What was the first selenoprotein identified in 1957?
Glutathione Peroxidase 1