Selenium Derivatives in Proteins

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with the selenium derivatives in proteins. This chapter illustrates that the study of selenium derivatives is limited by the analogy, which exists with sulfur derivatives, as well as by the great reactivity of organoseleno compounds that scarcely facilitates their isolation and purification. This analogy also plays a part in the metabolism of selenium derivatives, which seems to take place by pathways almost identical to those for sulfur. Study of the toxic properties of these compounds permits the conclusion that their toxicity is not a general property for all organisms and that in certain cases there are selenoproteins that continue to be active. It has even been found that one (or several) unidentified selenium derivative is an active substance in deficiency diseases related to vitamin E. Selenium (or its derivatives) is thus found to be related to compounds as important as CoA and ubiquinone. This chapter concludes that, a deeper knowledge of the biochemical reactions in which selenium derivatives are involved can inform to the real importance of scleniuin-containing amino acids in the functions of selenoproteins.