title: Human SepSecS or SLA/LP: selenocysteine formation and autoimmune hepatitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA.
authors.forename: Sotiria
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palioura
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herkel
authors.forename: Miljan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonović
authors.forename: Ansgar W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lohse
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Söll
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D017279:Selenocysteine; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases; C542370:O-phosphoseryl-tRNA:selenocysteinyl-tRNA synthase, human