Human SepSecS or SLA/LP: selenocysteine formation and autoimmune hepatitis.
Selenocysteine, the 21st genetically encoded amino acid, is the major form of the antioxidant trace element selenium in the human body. In eukaryotes and archaea its synthesis proceeds through a phosphorylated intermediate in a tRNA-dependent fashion. The final step of selenocysteine formation is catalyzed by O-phosphoseryl-tRNA:selenocysteinyl-tRNA synthase (SepSecS) that converts phosphoseryl-tRNA(Sec) to selenocysteinyl-tRNA(Sec). The human SepSecS protein is also known as soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas (SLA/LP), which represents one of the antigens of autoimmune hepatitis. Here we review the discovery of human SepSecS and the current understanding of the immunogenicity of SLA/LP in autoimmune hepatitis.
Palioura
Sotiria
S
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA.
Herkel
Johannes
J
Simonović
Miljan
M
Lohse
Ansgar W
AW
Söll
Dieter
D
D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017279:Selenocysteine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
D017279:Selenocysteine; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases; C542370:O-phosphoseryl-tRNA:selenocysteinyl-tRNA synthase, human