Selenium Its Molecular Biology and Role in Human Health [Paperback]

Many health benefits have been attributed to selenium that include preventing various forms of cancer (e.g., colon cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer and liver cancer), heart disease and other cardiovascular and muscle disorders, inhibiting viral expression, delaying the progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, slowing the aging process, and having roles in mammalian development, including male reproduction and immune function. The purpose of the book is the same as the first two volumes which is to bring an up to date status of current research in the rapidly developing selenium field centered around the health benefits attributed to this element and how this element makes its way into protein.

As with the two prior volumes in this series, this book examines the latest research in this rapidly developing field, analyzing the health benefits of selenium as well as focusing in particular on the way in which it relates to the biochemistry of proteins.

Foreword.- Preface.-Dedication.- Acknowledgements.- Chapter 1- History of selenium research.- Part I. Selenocysteine biosynthesis and incorporation into protein.- Chapter 2- Selenocysteine biosynthesis and the replacement of selenocysteine with cysteine in the pathway.- Chapter 3- Molecular mechanism of eukaryotic selenocysteine incorporation.- Chapter 4- SECIS binding proteins regulate the expression of the selenoproteome .- Chapter 5- A ribosomal perspective on the mechanism of selenocysteine incorporation.- Chapter 6- Chemical basis for the use of selenocysteine.- Chapter 7- Evolutionary basis for the use of selenocysteine.- Chapter 8- Selenocysteine lyase: Mechanism, structure and biological role .- Part II. Selenoproteins and selenoproteins in health.- Chapter 9- Selenoproteins and selenoproteomes .- Chapter 10- Structural characterization of mammalian selenoproteins.- Chapter 11- Selenoprl£_