title: Abundance and tissue distribution of selenocysteine-containing proteins in the rat.
abstract: The form and distribution of selenium (Se) in proteins from selected tissues of the rat were studied by measuring 75Se radioactivity in animals provided for 5 months with [75Se]selenite as the main dietary source of Se. Equilibration of the animals to a constant specific activity of 75Se allowed the measurement of 75Se to be used as a specific elemental assay for Se. Skeletal muscle, liver and blood accounted for 73% of the whole-body Se and 95% of the total Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity. Over 80% of the whole-body Se was in protein in the form of the selenoamino acid, selenocysteine. All other forms of Se that were measured accounted for less than 3% of the whole-body Se. The Se in protein was distributed in seven subunit sizes and nine chromatographic forms. The Se in glutathione peroxidase accounted for one-third of the whole-body Se. These results show that the main use of dietary Se, as selenite, in rats is for the synthesis of selenocysteine-containing proteins. Furthermore, the presence of two-thirds of the whole-body Se in nonglutathione peroxidase, selenocysteine-containing proteins suggests that there may be other important mammalian selenoenzymes besides glutathione peroxidase.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Wilhelmsen
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tappel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D017279:Selenocysteine; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D017279:Selenocysteine; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium; D003545:Cysteine