Selenocysteine modulates resistance to environmental stress and confers anti-aging effects in C. elegans

OBJECTIVE: The free radical theory of aging suggests that cellular oxidative damage caused by free radicals is a leading cause of aging. In the present study, we examined the effects of a well-known anti-oxidant amino acid derivative, selenocysteine, in response to environmental stress and aging using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. METHOD: The response to oxidative stress induced by H2O2 or ultraviolet irradiation was compared between the untreated control and selenocysteine-treated groups. The effect of selenocysteine on lifespan and fertility was then determined. To examine the effect of selenocysteine on muscle aging, we monitored the change in motility with aging in both the untreated control and selenocysteine-treated groups. RESULTS: Dietary supplementation with selenocysteine significantly increased resistance to oxidative stress. Survival after ultraviolet irradiation was also increased by supplementation with selenocysteine. Treatment with selenocysteine confers a longevity phenotype without an accompanying reduction in fertility, which is frequently observed in lifespan-extending interventions as a trade-off in C. elegans. In addition, the age-related decline in motility was significantly delayed by supplementation of selenocysteine. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that dietary supplementation of selenocysteine can modulate response to stressors and lead to lifespan extension, thus supporting the free radical theory of aging.

Relationship between expression of selenocysteine synthase and endothelial cell line ECV-304 injury induced by hydrogen peroxide / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective To observe the influence of selenocysteine synthase(SEPSECS) on injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cell line EVC-304 induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Methods Transfection was conducted to transfect EVC-304 which was maintained in vitro. The cells were divided into four groups: control group, SEPSECS over-expression group, empty vector group and SEPSECS silenced expression group, then Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to detected SEPSECS mRNA and protein expression , respectively. Flow cytometry(FCM) was performed to detect cell cycle. Different concentrations of H2O2, which including 0, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1 000 μmol/L, were used to treat EVC-304 . Then malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD) secreted by the cells which were treated with H2O2 for 6 h, were checked by MDA or SOD kit. Results The SEPSECS mRNA expressions of control, SEPSECS silenced expression, empty vector and SEPSECS over-expression groups were 1.03 ± 0.24, 0.43 ± 0.11, 0.98 ± 0.27 and 1.61 ± 0.13, respectively. The protein expressions of control, SEPSECS silenced expression, empty vector and SEPSECS over-expression groups were 1.00 ± 0.26, 0.51 ± 0.10, 1.12 ± 0.38 and 1.51 ± 0.20, respectively. There was a significant difference between control and SEPSECS silenced expression groups (all P 0.05). Meanwhile, MDA of SEPSECS silenced expression groups[(15.8 ± 0.5),(19.6 ± 1.5)μmol/L] were significantly higher than control groups[(12.4 ± 0.1),(17.1 ± 0.5)μmol/L, all P < 0.05], on the other hand, MDA of SEPSECS over-expression groups[(10.8 ± 0.4),(14.2 ± 1.1)μmol/L] were lower than empty vector groups [(12.7 ± 0.7),(16.2 ± 1.1)μmol/L, all P < 0.05], when the H2O2 concentration was 800 or 1 000μmol/L. The level of SOD was decreased along with the H2O2 concentration. SOD of SEPSECS silenced expression groups[(7.7 ± 0.4),(2.4 ± 0.3)μmol/L] were lower than control groups[(10.0 ± 1.0),(6.0 ± 0.6)μmol/L, all P < 0.05], on the contrary, SOD of SEPSECS over-expression groups[(11.3 ± 0.6),(12.7 ± 1.6)μmol/L] were higher than empty vector groups[(9.2 ± 0.6),(6.7 ± 0.2)μmol/L, all P < 0.05], when the H2O2 concentration was 800 or 1 000μmol/L. Conclusion Expression of SEPSECS has a significant protective role on damaged EVC-304 which was induced by H2O2.

Multiple Variant mRNAs with Different Length Tandem Repeats of (CAYYCC)n Produced from Bovine Selenoprotein P-like Protein Gene

In contrast to selenoprotein Ps (SelPs) from other animal species, bovine selenoprotein P-like-protein (SelPLP) was found to contain a tandem repeat of (CAYYCC)11. During an investigation into whether SelPLP was a bovine substitute for SelP or uniquely bovine, its mRNA was found to consist of multiple variants with different length tandem repeat, namely p(0) with (CAYYCC)11, p(-4) lacking (CAYYCC)4, p(-8) lacking (CAYYCC)8, and p(-9) lacking (CAYYCC)9. Although they were encoded on a single gene locus, neither classical GT-AG nor minor class AT-AC donator-acceptor sequences for alternative splicing were identified. A subsequent S1 protection assay using oligonucleotides, whose sequence may occur as variants, performed against bovine poly(A)+RNA identified a total of nine variants. Judging from the sequence of these variants and the branch point mapping, the consensus sequence for recognition of the donator was CACCCCCAC and of the acceptor and the branch point A nucleotide, ACCCCCAT or ACCCCCATCCCCAT. Furthermore, when the p(0) insert mRNA was expressed in COS-7 cells derived from an African green monkey kidney, cDNAs corresponding to p(-8) and p(-9) could be isolated. Therefore, the bovine SelPLP mRNAs consisted of multiple variants probably due to a novel splicing mechanism which was not bovine-specific but common to other mammals.

Multiple variant mRNAs with different length tandem repeats of (CAYYCC)n produced from bovine selenoprotein P-like protein gene

In contrast to selenoprotein Ps (SeIPs) from other animal species, bovine selenoprotein P-like-protein (SeIPLP) was found to contain a tandem repeat of (CAYYCC)(11). During an investigation into whether SeIPLP was a bovine substitute for SeIP or uniquely bovine, its mRNA was found to consist of multiple variants with different length tandem repeat, namely p(0) with (CAYYCC)(11), p(-4) lacking (CAYYCC)(4), p(-8) lacking (CAYYCC)(8), and p(-9) lacking (CAYYCC)(9). Although they were encoded on a single gene locus, neither classicalGT-AG: nor minor classAT-AC: donator-acceptor sequences for alternative splicing were identified. A subsequent S1 protection assay using oligonucleotides, whose sequence may occur as variants, performed against bovine poly(A)(+)RNA identified a total of nine variants. Judging from the sequence of these variants and the branch point mapping, the consensus sequence for recognition of the donator was CACCCCCAC: and of the acceptor and the branch point A nucleotide,ACCCC: CAT orACCCC: CATCCCCAT. Furthermore, when the p(0) insert mRNA was expressed in COS-7 cells derived from an African green monkey kidney, cDNAs corresponding to p(-8) and p(-9) could be isolated. Therefore, the bovine SeIPLP mRNAs consisted of multiple variants probably due to a novel splicing mechanism which was not bovine-specific but common to other mammals.