Skip to main content

Selenocysteinopathies

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Metalloproteins
  • 32 Accesses

Synonyms

Diseases of selenoprotein deficiency; Genetic/hereditary and nonhereditary diseases of selenoprotein deficiency; Selenocysteine-related diseases

Definition

Selenocysteinopathies are human diseases caused by defects in formation and function of selenium-containing proteins (selenoproteins).

Disorders of Selenium Deficiency

Selenoproteins (selenium-containing proteins) have a wide range of pleiotropic effects, ranging from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to the production of active thyroid hormone (Rayman 2012). Selenium deficiency has been implicated in neuromuscular disorders, male infertility, decreased immune and thyroid function, as well as increased risk for cancer, infection, and HIV progression (Rayman 2012; Papp et al. 2007; Huang et al. 2012). Notably, myxedematous cretinism (mental and growth retardation) has been attributed to combined selenium and iodine deficiency (Rayman 2012), while a fatal form of Coxsackie B–induced cardiomyopathy (Keshan disease) is...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agamy O, Ben Zeev B, Lev D et al (2010) Mutations disrupting selenocysteine formation cause progressive cerebello-cerebral atrophy. Am J Hum Genet 87(4):538–544

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arbogast S, Beuvin M, Fraysse B et al (2009) Oxidative stress in SEPN1-related myopathy: from pathophysiology to treatment. Ann Neurol 65:677–686

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bellinger FP, Raman AV, Reeves MA et al (2009) Regulation and function of selenoproteins in human disease. Biochem J 422:11–22

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burk RF, Hill KE, Olson GE et al (2007) Deletion of apolipoprotein E receptor-2 in mice lowers brain selenium and causes severe neurological dysfunction and death when a low-selenium diet is fed. J Neurosci 27:6207–6211

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castets P, Lecsure A, Guicheney P, Allamand V (2012) Selenoprotein N in skeletal muscle: from disease to function. J Mol Med. (Pubmed ahead of print)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill KE, Zhou J, McMahan WJ et al (2003) Deletion of selenoprotein P alters distribution of selenium in the mouse. J Biol Chem 278:13640–13646

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Z, Rose AH, Hoffmann PR (2012) The role of selenium in inflammation and immunity: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities. Antioxid Redox Signal 16(7):705–743

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lobanov AV, Hatfield DL, Gladyshev VN (2009) Eukaryotic selenoproteins and selenoproteomes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1790:1424–1428

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu J, Holmgren A (2009) Selenoproteins. J Biol Chem 284:723–727

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakayama A, Hill KE, Austin LM et al (2007) All regions of mouse brain are dependent on selenoprotein P for maintenance of selenium. J Nutr 137:690–693

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papp LV, Lu J, Holmgren A, Khanna KK (2007) From selenium to selenoproteins: synthesis, identity and their role in human health. Antioxid Redox Signal 9(7):775–806

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rayman MP (2012) Selenium and human health. Lancet 379:1256–1268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves MA, Bellinger FP, Berry MJ (2010) The neuroprotective functions of selenoprotein M and its role in cytosolic calcium regulation. Antioxid Redox Signal 12(7):809–818

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schoenmakers E, Agostini M, Mitchell C (2010) Mutations in the selenocysteine insertion sequence–binding protein 2 gene lead to a multisystem selenoprotein deficiency disorder in humans. J Clin Invest 120(12):4220–4235

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Valentine WM, Abel TW, Hill KE et al (2008) Neurodegeneration in mice resulting from loss of functional selenoprotein P or its receptor apolipoprotein E receptor 2. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 67:68–77

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wirth EK, Conrad M, Winterer J et al (2010) Neuronal selenoprotein expression is required for interneuron development and prevents seizures and neurodegeneration. FASEB J 24(3):844–852

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yoo MH, Gu X, Xu XM et al (2010) Delineating the role of glutathione peroxidase 4 in protecting cells against lipid hydroperoxide damage and in Alzheimer's disease. Antioxid Redox Signal 12(7):819–827

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zachara BA, Pawluk H, Bloch-Boguslawska E et al (2001) Tissue level, distribution, and total body selenium content in healthy and diseased humans in Poland. Arch Environ Health 56:461–466

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Schweizer U et al (2008) Comparative analysis of selenocysteine machinery and selenoproteome gene expression in mouse brain identifies neurons as key functional sites of selenium in mammals. J Biol Chem 283:2427–2438

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ohad S. Birk M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Birk, O.S. (2013). Selenocysteinopathies. In: Kretsinger, R.H., Uversky, V.N., Permyakov, E.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Metalloproteins. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1533-6_446

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics