Chapter 6 - Synthesis and catalytic functions of selenopeptides

Abstract

Although the research on selenocysteine-containing peptides and proteins has developed rapidly in the last few decades, the chemical and biological assessments of the selenopeptides as mimics and mechanistic probes of selenoenzymes and novel peptide-based antioxidants and therapeutic drugs have been insufficiently explored. In this chapter, the current status of experimental methodologies available for the chemical synthesis of selenopeptides and their catalytic functions as the mimics of selenoenzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, are summarized. Further applications of selenopeptides to versatile fields of chemistry and biology will be an interesting challenge to be explored.