Selenoprotein synthesis: an expansion of the genetic code.

Trends in biochemical sciences ·Vol. 16 ·No. 12 ·1991-12-00 ·Pages 463-7

Böck A, Forchhammer K, Heider J, Baron C

Abstract

A number of enzymes employ the unusual amino acid selenocysteine as part of their active site because of its high chemical reactivity. Selenocysteine is incorporated into these proteins co-translationally: biosynthesis occurs on a specific tRNA and insertion into a growing polypeptide is directed by a UGA codon in the mRNA. In E. coli, this requires a specific translation factor. Selenocysteine thus represents a unique expansion of the genetic code.

MeSH Terms

Animals Base Sequence Codon Cysteine/analogs & derivatives,biosynthesis,genetics Escherichia coli/genetics Genetic Code Humans Molecular Sequence Data Organoselenium Compounds Protein Biosynthesis Proteins/genetics RNA, Messenger/genetics RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific/genetics Selenium/metabolism Selenocysteine Selenoproteins

Chemicals

Codon Organoselenium Compounds Proteins RNA, Messenger RNA, Transfer, Amino Acid-Specific Selenoproteins Selenocysteine Selenium Cysteine

Authors & Affiliations

4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID

Böck A

Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Universität München, FRG.

Forchhammer K

Heider J

Baron C

Article Info

Journal

Trends in biochemical sciences

Abbr.

Trends Biochem Sci

ISSN

0968-0004

DOI

10.1016/0968-0004(91)90180-4

Published

1991-12-00

Pages

463-7

Language

English

Region

England

NLM ID

7610674

Subset

External Links

PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/0968-0004(91)90180-4 View journal details

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