Exploring the selenium-over-sulfur substrate specificity and kinetics of a bacterial selenocysteine lyase

Synthesis of a New Class of β-Carbonyl Selenides Functionalized with Ester Groups with Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties—Part II

“…However, this compound was characterized by the best anticancer activity against MCF-7 cells [28]. The latter, the In the case of the remaining tested compounds, the organoselenium derivatives of chiral alcohols (20/21, 10/22 and 23/24) exhibited better free-radical scavenging properties compared to those derived from aliphatic alcohols (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) or benzyl alcohol (18). Moreover, the capacity for free-radical inhibition among this group of compounds was the highest for butyl esters and the lowest for products incorporating methylbenzyl in their structure.…”

“…To acetone (2 mL) was added NaHCO 3 (0.063 g, 0.75 mmol, 1 eq.) (12)(13)(14)(15) or Et 3 N (0.095 g, 0.75 mmol, 1 eg) (10,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) with stirring for 30 min; then, the solution of 2-(chloroseleno)-benzoyl chloride (0.190 g, 0.75 mmol, 1 eq.) in acetone (1 mL) was added.…”

“…A catalytic reduction in peroxides by GPx is presented in Scheme 1 [ 17 ]. L -selenocysteine 1 builds up the active side of the enzyme and catalyzes the ROOH reduction to ROH [ 18 ]. The Se atom of 2 is maintained in its active ionized form due to the specific amino acid environment—glutamine and tryptophan—creating the catalytic triad with L -Sec [ 19 ].…”

Bioinorganic Modulators of Ferroptosis: A Review of Recent Findings

“…Selenium has been long known as an apoptosis inducer through superoxide generation in cells [ 87 ], which ultimately raised the question of the possible application of this element in cancer treatment and its hypothesized participation in ferroptosis. The implication of selenium in ferroptosis seems evident given: (i) its chemical similarity to sulphur [ 88 ], as was the case between iron and gallium; (ii) the selenoenzymatic nature of glutathione peroxidase 4 protein (GPX4), the main regulator of membrane-associated lipid peroxidation [ 86 ]; (iii) the uptake and accumulation of selenium being correlated to the x c − antiporter system known to be one of the gateways to developing ferroptosis [ 89 ]; and (iv) a long list of anti-cancer effects ascribed to numerous selenium-based compounds, either with or without acknowledgement of ferroptosis as a distinct mechanism of cell death being induced [ 90 ]. Over the years, inorganic and organic selenium-based compounds of varying degrees of toxicity were tested for their application as therapeutic selenium donors.…”