title: Selenoprotein W accumulates primarily in primate skeletal muscle, heart, brain and tongue.
abstract: The human selenoprotein W coding region with the selenocysteine codon (TGA) changed to a cysteine codon (TGT) was fused to six histidine codons (at its 3' end), cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector (pTrc99a), and the corresponding mutated selenoprotein W was expressed in bacteria. The protein was purified by Ni-NTA agarose column and reverse phase HPLC. Polyclonal antibodies raised against this protein were used in Western blots to determine tissue distribution of selenoprotein W from rhesus monkeys fed a commercial chow. Selenoprotein W was found in several tissues with highest amounts in skeletal muscle and heart (muscle 6 fold greater than liver) and lowest levels in liver, but selenium concentrations were highest in kidneys (10 fold greater than muscle) and lowest in skeletal muscle. Northern blots using a human selenoprotein W cDNA probe indicated that mRNA levels were highest in monkey skeletal muscle and heart (2-2.5 fold greater than in liver), which is similar to the pattern found with a human multiple tissue Northern blot. However, as in the monkey, selenium concentrations were highest in human kidney and lowest in skeletal muscle and heart. Thus, selenoprotein W protein levels correlated with selenoprotein W mRNA levels but not with tissue selenium concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA.
authors.forename: Q P
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Ream
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Whanger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism; D051151:Selenoprotein W; D051140:Selenoproteins; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495240:SELENOW protein, human; D051151:Selenoprotein W; D051140:Selenoproteins; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium