Selenoproteins represent a category of proteins that possess selenocysteine as the active center, by taking advantage of robust reducing ability of selenium, selenoproteins exert an important antioxidant function in various organisms. To date, there are 25 genes that encode selenoproteins found in human genome. Among them, selenoprotein R is the only methionine sulfoxide reductase that contains selenocysteine. It is located in the cytoplasm and nucleus, given the protein structure and strong nucleophilicity of selenium, selenoprotein R is competent to specifically reduce the oxidized sulfur in methionine-R-sulfoxide. Selenoprotein R could directly interact with many proteins, such as actin, transient receptor potential channel proteins, and β-amyloid protein. It may play crucial roles in the central nervous system and is closely related with the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 The recognition of selenoprotein R and other Msrs
3 Phenotype induced by Msrs knockout
4 Involvement of selenoprotein R in neural degenerative disease
5 Conclusion and outlook