Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element used for biosynthesis of selenoproteins and is acquired either through diet or cellular recycling mechanisms. Selenocysteine lyase (Scly) is the enzyme that supplies Se for selenoprotein biosynthesis via decomposition of the amino acid selenocysteine (Sec). Knockout (KO) of Scly in a mouse affected hepatic glucose and lipid homeostasis. Mice lacking Scly and raised on an Se-adequate diet exhibit hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, glucose intolerance, and hepatic steatosis, with increased hepatic oxidative stress, but maintain selenoprotein levels and circulating Se status. Insulin challenge of Scly KO mice results in attenuated Akt phosphorylation but does not decrease phosphorylation levels of AMP kinase alpha (AMPK␣). Upon dietary Se restriction, Scly KO animals develop several characteristics of metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, fatty liver, and hypercholesterolemia, with aggravated hyperleptinemia, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose intolerance. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) and selenoprotein S (SelS) production and circulating selenoprotein P (Sepp1) levels are significantly diminished. Scly disruption increases the levels of insulin-signaling inhibitor PTP1B. Our results suggest a dependence of glucose and lipid homeostasis on Scly activity. These findings connect Se and energy metabolism and demonstrate for the first time a unique physiological role of Scly in an animal model. S elenium (Se) is an essential trace element acquired through the diet that has been implicated in brain (53), immune, and thyroid function (49), in fertility (2), and in cancer prevention (43). Dietary Se is found in inorganic or organic forms. Se is mostly utilized for biosynthesis of the unique amino acid selenocysteine (Sec), which is cotranslationally incorporated into selenoproteins (36), functioning primarily in redox reactions. The Sec incorporation mechanism involves de novo synthesis of Sec via selenophosphate (SeϳP), which is synthesized by selenophosphate synthetases (SPS) (60). SeϳP is enzymatically attached to the O-phosphoseryl-tRNA, which is then converted to the specific selenocysteyl-tRNA [Ser]Sec used in the selenoprotein translation (54,61). Se is thought to enter the SeϳP pool for Sec biosynthesis either from diet or via recycling after selenoprotein degradation and release of Sec.Selenocysteine lyase (Scly) is responsible for cellular Sec decomposition to mobilize Se for utilization in selenoprotein synthesis (10, 41). Scly was first isolated and characterized from pig liver (18) and subsequently shown to break down Sec into alanine and selenide (41). Scly has been the target of several in vitro studies: it was reported to interact with SPS (58), and its crystal structure revealed the mechanism for the enzyme reaction specificity toward Se (10, 46). In vivo, Scly was recently shown to be involved in selenoprotein biosynthesis in HeLa cells (30). However, the physiological role of Scly in cellular Se metabolism and in vertebrate whole-body Se homeostasis remain...

Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient that maintains biological functions through the action of Se containing proteins known as selenoproteins. Due to the known antioxidant effects of Se, supplements containing Se have been on the rise. While Se supplementation may be beneficial for Se deficient populations, few are at risk for Se deficiency due to the transportation of food from Se-rich regions and the rise of Se-enriched foods. Alarmingly, Se supplementation may have adverse effects in people who already receive an adequate Se supply. Specifically, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes has been reported in individuals with high baseline Se levels. However, this effect was restricted to males, suggesting the relationship between Se and glucose homeostasis may be sexually dimorphic. This review will discuss the current understanding of the interaction between Se and glucose homeostasis, including any sex differences that have been described.

BackgroundParkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized pathologically by the loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons that project from the substantia nigra in the midbrain to the putamen and caudate nuclei, leading to the clinical features of bradykinesia, rigidity, and rest tremor. Oxidative stress from oxidized dopamine and related compounds may contribute to the degeneration characteristic of this disease.ResultsTo investigate a possible role of the phospholipid hydroperoxidase glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in protection from oxidative stress, we investigated GPX4 expression in postmortem human brain tissue from individuals with and without Parkinson's disease. In both control and Parkinson's samples, GPX4 was found in dopaminergic nigral neurons colocalized with neuromelanin. Overall GPX4 was significantly reduced in substantia nigra in Parkinson's vs. control subjects, but was increased relative to the cell density of surviving nigral cells. In putamen, GPX4 was concentrated within dystrophic dopaminergic axons in Parkinson's subjects, although overall levels of GPX4 were not significantly different compared to control putamen.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates an up-regulation of GPX4 in neurons of substantia nigra and association of this protein with dystrophic axons in striatum of Parkinson's brain, indicating a possible neuroprotective role. Additionally, our findings suggest this enzyme may contribute to the production of neuromelanin.

Background: Selenoprotein M (SelM) is highly expressed in the brain and postulated to have neuroprotective properties. Results: SelM expression is present in high levels in hypothalamic nuclei involved in energy metabolism, and SelM KO mice exhibit increased adiposity without apparent cognitive deficits. Conclusion: SelM protects against obesity. Significance: Increased understanding of the genes that protect against obesity may yield improved treatments and prevention strategies.

The global health crisis triggered by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic presents puzzling individual and regional differences in the severity of patient outcomes. Nutritional status is a significant factor in immunity, and augmented virulence in humans has been linked to nutrient deficiencies, including that of the micronutrient selenium (1). As longstanding researchers in selenium biology, we were intrigued by the recent findings of Zhang et al. ( 2), detailing a positive association between reported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cure rates and previously measured population selenium status in 17 cities across China. Regional selenium status varies considerably, with most European countries and certain provinces of China being more prone to suboptimal levels than the United States (3). Likewise, acknowledging that actual rates are unknown due to widespread undertesting, nations with the highest reported COVID-19 case-fatality rates (>13%) according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center platform (4) correspond to regions where suboptimal selenium status was documented previously, such as Italy, France, and the United Kingdom (5). Meanwhile, in the United States, where most of the population is selenium