About selenoproteins

Selenoproteins are a diverse group of proteins that contain selenocysteine (Sec), the 21st amino acid. In the genetic code, UGA serves as a termination signal and a Sec codon and the alternative decoding of UGA depends on several cis- (SECIS element) and trans-acting factors (selenocysteil-tRNA, SECIS binding protein, an specific elongation factor and others). The SECIS element is a RNA secondary structure located in the 3'UTR or coding region in eukaryotic and bacterial selenoproteins respectively. Although most selenoproteins remain poorly characterized, those with known function are involved in redox reactions (for example in oxidative stress defence). For more information, you are refered to one of these excellent books or reviews:

Hatfield DL, Berry MJ, Gladyshev VN (Eds.)
Selenium: Its Molecular Biology and Role in Human Health
Springer, 2nd ed. (2006)

Gromer S, Eubel JK, Lee BL, Jacob J
Human selenoproteins at a glance
Cell Mol. Life Sci., 62, 2414-37 (2005)

Schomburg L, Schweizer U, Kohrle J
Selenium and selenoproteins in mammals: extraordinary, essential, enigmatic
Cell. Mol. Life Sci., 61, 1988-95 (2004)

Driscoll DM, Copeland PR
Mechanism and regulation of selenoprotein synthesis
Annu. Rev. Nutr., 23, 17-40 (2003)

Birringer M, Pilawa S, Flohe L
Trends in selenium biochemistry
Nat. Prod. Rep., 19, 693-718 (2002)

Hatfield DL, Gladyshev VN
How selenium has altered our understanding of the genetic code
Mol. Cell. Biol., 22, 3565-76 (2002)

Krol A
Evolutionarily different RNA motifs and RNA-protein complexes to achieve selenoprotein synthesis
Biochimie, 84, 765-74 (2002)

Rother M, Resch A, Wilting R, Bock A
Selenoprotein synthesis in archaea
Biofactors, 14, 75-83 (2001)

Burk RF, Hill KE
Orphan selenoproteins
Bioessays, 21, 231-7 (1999)

Low SC, Berry MJ
Knowing when not to stop: selenocysteine incorporation in eukaryotes
Trends Biochem. Sci., 21, 203-8 (1996)

Stadtman TC
Selenocysteine
Annu. Rev. Biochem., 65, 83-100 (1996)

Bock A, Forchhammer K, Heider J, Baron C
Selenoprotein synthesis: an expansion of the genetic code
Trends Biochem. Sci., 16, 463-7 (1991)

Stadtman TC
Selenium biochemistry
Annu. Rev. Biochem., 59, 111-27 (1990)