• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.189-192
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• 2011

Much interest has been recently focused on the production of large quantities of hydrogen, due to its potential importance in our economy and needs in the petroleum and chemical industries. Formate dehydrogenase H (FDH-H) from Escherichia coli containing selenocysteine that oxidizes formate to carbon dioxide with the release of hydrogen is a component of the anaerobic formate hydrogen-lyase complex of E. coli. To make full use of FDH-H, we need effective expression condition. In this approach, we investigated the effect of pH on FDH-H stability and observed the effect of selenite and formate concentration on the activity of FDH-H. Additionally, coexpression of selenocysteine insertion genes were tried to improve the expression of FDH-H. The highest level of FDH-H expression was achieved by coexpression of selenocysteine insertion genes (pSUABC) as well as by the addition of $10\;{\mu}M$ selenite and 10 mM formate. At this optimized condition, a 2.6 fold elevation of expression of FDH-H was achieved.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2012.06a
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• pp.397-399
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• 2012

생물학에서 특정 단백질을 구성하는 아미노산 서열을 결정하는 것은 매우 중요하다. 이를 위해 펩타이드의 단동위질량을 결정하는 것은 매우 중요한 문제이다. 하지만 Selenocysteine(Sec)이 가지고 있는 특이 성질 때문에 기존의 알고리즘으로 Sec를 포함한 펩타이드의 단동위질량을 결정하는 것은 쉽지 않다. J.W.Kim et.al.은 Sec의 특성을 고려하여 새로운 모델을 제시하고 그에 맞는 알고리즘을 보였다. 이 논문에서는 실험을 통해 J.W.Kim et.al.이 제안한 알고리즘을 실제 프로그램으로 구현하여 실행할 때 고려해야 할 주요 파라미터 및 함수에 대한 분석을 수행한다.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.572-577
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• 2017

In most clinical applications, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are expanded in large scale before their administration. Prolonged culture in vitro results in cellular senescence-associated phenotypes, including accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased cell viabilities. Profiling of stem cell-related genes during in vitro expansion revealed that numerous canonical pathways were significantly changed. To determine the effect of selenocysteine (Sec), a rare amino acid found in several antioxidant enzymes, on the replicative senescence in hMSCs, we treated senescent hMSCs with Sec. Supplementation of Sec in the culture medium in late-passage hMSCs reduced ROS levels and improved the survival of hMSCs. In addition, a subset of key antioxidant genes and Sec-containing selenoproteins showed increased mRNA levels after Sec treatment. Furthermore, ROS metabolism and inflammation pathways were predicted to be downregulated. Taken together, our results suggest that Sec has antioxidant effects on the replicative senescence of hMSCs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.661-670
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• 2006

Selenium (Se) obtained from dietary sources including cereals, grains and vegetables is an essential micronutrient for normal function of the body. Plants convert Se into selenomethionine and incorporate it into proteins in place of methionine, while higher animals synthesize selenoproteins containing selenocysteine. Excessive Se in the body is methylated stepwise to methylated selenium metabolites from selenide. Both inorganic and organic forms of selenium can be the nutritional sources in human, and they are transformed to selenide and then the amino acid selenocysteine attached to a specific $tRNA^{ser(sec)}$. The selenocysteine (Sec) is incorporated into selenoprotein sequences by the UGA codon. The decoding of UGA as Sec requires specific mechanisms because UGA is normally read as a stop codon: cis-acting sequences in the mRNA (the selenocysteine insertion sequence, SECIS, within the 3'untranslated region) and trans -acting factors dedicated to Sec incorporation are required for incorporation of Sec during translation of selenoprotein mRNAs. Approximately 25 selenoproteins have been identified in mammals. Several of these, including glutathione peroxidases, thioredoxin reductases and selenoprotein P, have been purified or cloned, allowing further characterization of their biological function. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals which may contribute to the development of chronic disease such as cancer and heart disease. Other selenoproteins have important roles in regulation of thyroid function and play a role in the immune system. Daily selenium iatake was reported to be $42.0{\pm}16.9{\mu}g/day$ in Korean adult women. This review focuses on the metabolism and biological functions of selenium, and the nutritional status of selenium in the Korean population.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.228-235
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• 2008

Thiol-dependent redox systems are involved in regulation of diverse biological processes, such as response to stress, signal transduction, and protein folding. The thiol-based redox control is provided by mechanistically similar, but structurally distinct families of enzymes known as thiol oxidoreductases. Many such enzymes have been characterized, but identities and functions of the entire sets of thiol oxidoreductases in organisms are not known. Extreme sequence and structural divergence makes identification of these proteins difficult. Thiol oxidoreductases contain a redox-active cysteine residue, or its functional analog selenocysteine, in their active sites. Here, we describe computational methods for in silico prediction of thiol oxidoreductases in nucleotide and protein sequence databases and identification of their redox-active cysteines. We discuss different functional categories of cysteine residues, describe methods for discrimination between catalytic and noncatalytic and between redox and non-redox cysteine residues and highlight unique properties of the redox-active cysteines based on evolutionary conservation, secondary and three-dimensional structures, and sporadic replacement of cysteines with catalytically superior selenocysteine residues.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.307-314
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• 2013

Selenium exists in various forms of chemical species. The activity and bioavailability is strongly dependent on its chemical form and concentration. Consequently the information on each selenium species and its concentration must be exactly determined for the food we take in. In this study, selenium species in seafood were separated and quantified by RP (reversed phase) HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) coupled with ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) using post-column isotope dilution. $^{79}Br$, which interferes on $^{80}Se$, has mostly been removed by solid phase extraction and then mathematical correction has been applied for the more accurate correction. The experimental result for CRM (certified reference material) DOLT-4 agreed well with the certified value but each selenium species could not be compared. SeCys (selenocysteine) and SeMet (selenomethionine) were the major species detected in seafood such as belt fish, spanish mackerel, and squid that have been serving as Korean diet. The concentrations found in Korean sea food for SeCys and SeMet were in the range of 0-661.6 mg/kg and 137.3-462.7 mg/kg, respectively.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48
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• pp.13-23
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• 2003

The trace mineral, selenium (Se), is an essential nutrient of fundamental importance to human health. It is also very toxic and can cause Se poisoning (selenosis) in human and animals when its intake exceeds a suitable amount. Se functions within mammalian systems primarily in the form of solenoprotein. About 35 selenoproteins have been identified, though many have not yet been fully elucidated. Selenoproteins contain Se as selenocyseine (Sec) and perform variety of structural and enzymic roles; the enzymic roles are best-known as the antioxidants for hydrogen peroxides and lipid peroxides, and the catalysts for production of activity thyroid hormone. Glutathione peroxidases ($\textrm{GP}_X$) among the selenoproteins prevent the generation of free radicals and decrease the risk of oxidative damage to tissues, as does thioredoxin reductase (TR). TR also provides reducing power for several biochemical processes. Selenoproteins P and W are involved with oxidant defense in plasma and muscle, respectively, A selenoprotein is also required for sperm motility and may reduce the risk of miscarriage. Some epidemiological studies have revealed an inverse correlation between Se status and cardiovascular disease, and there is considerable evidence 1mm population com-parison data and animal studies that Se is anticarcinogenic. It is also suggested that Se should be needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, and appear to be a key nutrient in counteracting the development of virulence and inhibiting HIV progression to AIDS. As research continues, the role of selenium in the etiology of chronic diseases like appropriate medical nutrition therapy can be delivered and its effectiveness assessed. Se status in individuals is affected by diet and the availability of the Se. The Se content of plants is affected by the content and availability of the element in the soil in which they are grown, and so greatly varies from country to country, while the Se composition of meat reflects the feeding patterns of livestock. This paper provides an overview on Se as an essential trace mineral for human.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2015

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals, and several findings suggest that dietary Se intake may be necessary for bone health. Accumulating evidence indicates that Se compounds possess anticancer properties. Se is specifically incorporated into proteins in the form of selenocysteine and non-specifically incorporated as selenomethionine in place of methionine. This study evaluated protection by Se in the bone repair process in ovariectomized rats after irradiation. For such purpose, 80 ovariectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups: ovariectomized (Ov), Ov/Se, Ov/irradiated (Irr) and Ov/ Se/Irr. A bone defect was created on the tibia of all animals 40 days after ovariectomy. Two days after surgery, only the Ov/Se and Ov/Se/Irr rats received 0.8 mg Se/kg. Three days after surgery, only the Ov/Irr and Ov/Se/Irr rats received 10 Gy of X-rays on the lower limb region. The animals were euthanized at 7, 15, 22 and 29 days after surgery to assess the repair process, which was evaluated by analysis of trabecular bone number (Masson Trichrome) and birefringence analysis (Picrosirius). It was possible to observe a delay in the bone repair process in the ovariectomized/irradiated group and similarity between the ovariectomized, Ov/ Se and Ov/Se/Irr groups. Our findings suggest that sodium selenite may influence a radioprotective effect in the bone repair of tibia of ovariectomized rats without toxicity.