Selenocysteine is selectively taken up by red blood cells

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry Vol. 73; no. 12; pp. 2746 - 2748
• Main Authors: Imai, T., Kyoto Univ., Uji (Japan). Inst. for Chemical Research, Mihara, H, Kurihara, T, Esaki, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry 01.12.2009; Japan Society for Bioscience Biotechnology and Agrochemistry; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Absorption; Animals; ANTIOXIDANTES; ANTIOXIDANTS; ANTIOXYDANT; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT; Biological Transport - drug effects; BIOSINTESIS; BIOSYNTHESE; BIOSYNTHESIS; BLOOD CELLS; CELLULE SANGUINE; CELULAS SANGUINEAS; Cysteine - pharmacology; DESARROLLO BIOLOGICO; DEVELOPPEMENT BIOLOGIQUE; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemoglobins - metabolism; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_27587; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_511; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6259; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6953; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_921; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_928; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_960; Male; OXIDOREDUCTIONS; OXIRREDUCION; OXYDOREDUCTION; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; Rats; Rats, Wistar; red blood cells; SELENIO; selenite; SELENIUM; selenocysteine; Selenocysteine - metabolism; selenocystine; selenomethionine; Sodium Azide - pharmacology; red blood cells; selenocysteine; selenocystine; Red blood cell; selenomethionine; Selenites; selenite
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.90306

Both organic and inorganic forms of selenium are utilized in the biosynthesis of selenoproteins. Selenite is taken up by red blood cells and then returned to the plasma after reduction, but little is known about the metabolic fate of selenocysteine. We found that selenocysteine was taken up into red blood cells without decomposition into selenide.