RNA binding proteins and selenocysteine

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Copeland, Paul R. | Driscoll, Donna M.

Affiliations: Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA

Note: [] Department of Cell Biology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave #NC-10, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Tel.: +1 216445 9757; Fax: +1 216444 9404; E-mail: copelap@ccf.org

Abstract: Selenocysteine is incorporated into protein by a complex co-translational mechanism that involves both cis and trans acting factors. Among the trans-acting factors are RNA binding proteins that interact with the selenoprotein 3' UTRs at a sequence known as the selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS). These factors are generally referred to as SBPs, and in this review we will discuss the history of the SBPs, and give a detailed description of the recently identified SBP2 which is the only SBP known to be required for Sec insertion. The mechanism by which SBP2 may be involved in this process will be discussed.

Keywords: selenoprotein biosynthesis, eukarya, selenocysteine insertion, SECIS, SBP2, EFSec

Journal: BioFactors, vol. 14, no. 1-4, pp. 11-16, 2001