Molecular Aspects Of The Biological Activity Of Selenium

This review of current literature describes the role and biological activity of selenium, especially the links found between the dietary presence of selenium, its metabolism and the impact of genetic factors on the expression levels and activity of selenoproteins, as well as the consequences of disruptions to the cellular ability to effectively process selenium. Data found in the literature show that many of the SNPs found in selenoprotein genes lead to the different functionality of the resulting allelic variants. Further studies into the additional consequences of these change potentially link these changes to the incidence or increased risk of disease, when combined with other SNPs and environmental factors. Currently there is little data regarding thse interactions when considering the global metabolism of selenium (in cases of multiple SNPs) with only the physiological effects caused by the presence of single SNPs being described. There is a clear need to continue research into this area. Combining transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics may result in new aspects of the biological activity of selenium being found, leading to a more informed individual-based approach when dealing with increased risk of disease resulting from selenium deficiency of problems with its cellular metabolism.