Elucidation of the function of selenium binding protein in selenium metabolic pathway in heart

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16351
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 47030:Pharmaceutical hygiene and biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Yoshida Sakura 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(薬学系), 助教 (40736419)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: セレン / セレノトリスルフィド / 心臓

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Myoglobin was proved to bind selenium through selenotrisulfide bond in rat heart by our previous research. In this research, it was shown that selenium bound to myoglobin was reactive and could be transported to free cysteine thiol of human serum albumin. Additionally, selenium from several selnotrisulfide compounds could be absorbed and utilized for selenoprotein synthesis in cultured myocardial cells. These facts suggested that thiol-exchange reaction with thiol and selenotrisulfide may participates in metabolism and transport of selenium in heart.

Free Research Field

衛生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

セレン欠乏は心臓に重大な影響を与えることが知られているが，心臓のセレン代謝についてはあまり明らかにされていない。また，セレンは種々の疾患との関連が指摘されているが，生体内の存在量が少なくその詳細は不明である。本研究によりセレン代謝過程とミオグロビンおよびセレノトリスルフィドとの関連性が示され，今後のセレン欠乏による心筋障害やセレンと心疾患の関連性の解明に関する研究の一助となる可能性が考えられる。