title: Selenoprotein synthesis: a unique translational mechanism used by a diverse family of proteins.
abstract: The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the unique mechanism by which mammalian selenoprotein synthesis occurs. Selenoprotein synthesis requires translational recoding of the UGA codon from a stop signal to a selenocysteine insertion signal (SECIS). Dedicated factors directly involved in this translation process include specific secondary structure in the mRNA (SECIS), a unique tRNA (Sec-tRNA(Sec)), an RNA binding protein (SBP2), and a specialized elongation factor (EFsec). Regulation of this process is discussed along with physiologic and clinical issues regarding selenoprotein synthesis, including the side effects associated with statin drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA. peterh@pbrc.hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Marla J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003062:Codon; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008954:Models, Biological; D005810:Multigene Family; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D051140:Selenoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010445:Peptide Elongation Factors; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D051140:Selenoproteins; D012313:RNA; D012343:RNA, Transfer