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Review
. 2009 Aug;66(15):2457-78.
doi: 10.1007/s00018-009-0032-4. Epub 2009 Apr 28.

The human selenoproteome: recent insights into functions and regulation

M A Reeves  1 , P R Hoffmann
Affiliations
Review

The human selenoproteome: recent insights into functions and regulation

M A Reeves et al. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2009 Aug.

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is a nutritional trace mineral essential for various aspects of human health that exerts its effects mainly through its incorporation into selenoproteins as the amino acid, selenocysteine. Twenty-five selenoprotein genes have been identified in humans and several selenoproteins are broadly classified as antioxidant enzymes. As progress is made on characterizing the individual members of this protein family, however, it is becoming clear that their properties and functions are quite diverse. This review summarizes recent insights into properties of individual selenoproteins such as tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and regulation of expression. Also discussed are potential roles the different selenoproteins play in human health and disease.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Three examples of antioxidant or redox reactions catalyzed by selenoproteins. In the first reaction, different forms of peroxide (R–O–O–H) such as hydrogen peroxide or lipid peroxide are reduced by the GPx selenoenzymes using glutathione (GSH). In the second, oxidized thioredoxin (Trx-S2) is converted to reduced thioredoxin (Trx-(SH)2) by thioredoxin reductase (Trxrd) using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). The third reaction involves reduction of the R-stereoisomer of methionine-sulfoxide (Met-R-O) within peptides to methionine (Met) by selenoprotein R (Sel R, also called MSRB1) using Trx
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Roles for selenoproteins in regulating oxidative stress and redox status of signaling molecules. Through antioxidant selenoenzymes such as glutathione peroxidases, thioredoxin reductases, or methionine sulfoxide reductase, cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is mitigated. In addition, selenoproteins may directly or indirectly modulate redox-regulated signaling
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Selenoproteins exhibit varied subcellular localization, which may offer insights into their functions and regulation. Note that some selenoproteins have been omitted due to restricted tissue distribution or unknown subcellular localization
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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