Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Nov;30(11):3669-3681.
doi: 10.1096/fj.201600424. Epub 2016 Jul 29.

Why 21? The significance of selenoproteins for human health revealed by inborn errors of metabolism

Ulrich Schweizer  1 , Noelia Fradejas-Villar  2
Affiliations
Review

Why 21? The significance of selenoproteins for human health revealed by inborn errors of metabolism

Ulrich Schweizer et al. FASEB J. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Selenocysteine is the 21st proteinogenic amino acid in mammals. The human genome contains 25 genes encoding selenoproteins, and their significance for human health is increasingly recognized through the identification of patients with inborn errors in selenoprotein biosynthetic factors or in individual selenoproteins. Mutations in selenoprotein N (SEPN1) lead to a spectrum of disorders collectively called SEPN1-related myopathy, and mutations in glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) cause respiratory failure and bone defects, and mutations in thioredoxin reductase 2 (TXNRD2) are associated with familial glucocorticoid deficiency. Pathogenic mutations in selenocysteine synthase (SEPSECS) cause neurodevelopmental disorders, but also other factors epistatic to selenoprotein biosynthesis, such as SECIS-binding protein 2 (SECISBP2) and tRNA[Ser]Sec, are known to cause complex disorders. Mutations in the latter 2 genes involve impaired metabolism and action of thyroid hormones, which lead to delayed bone growth and maturation. Mutations in SECISBP2 sometimes affect nervous system development, muscle, inner ear, skin, and immune system function, underlining the significance of selenoproteins for the organism. Mouse models helped to delineate the functions of selenoproteins and explain pathomechanisms. For brevity, this review is focused on human genetic disorders associated with selenoprotein deficiency and only briefly touches on health effects of nutritional selenium deficiency.-Schweizer, U., Fradejas-Villar, N. Why 21? The significance of selenoproteins for human health revealed by inborn errors of metabolism.

Keywords: Sedaghatian; brain development; deiodinase; epilepsy; interneuron.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources

-