The selenium metabolism begins with the introduction of selenate and selenite to the cytosol through a sulphate permease system. Once in the cell, selenate can be reduced to selenite through nitrate reductases A and Z. Selenite then interacts with glutathione and 2 hydrogen ions resulting in the release of 2 water molecules, a hydroxide molecule, a glutathione disulfide and a selenodiglutathione. The latter compound then reacts with NADPH+H resulting in the release of a NADP, a glutathione and a glutathioselenol. Glutathiolselenol can then be oxidize resulting in a a glutathiolselenol ion which can then interact with a water molecule resulting in a release of glutathion and selenium Glutathiolselenol can also react with NADPH and hydrogen ion resulting in a release of glutathione, NADP, a hydroxide molecule and a hydrogen selenide. This compound can react in a reversible reaction by being oxidized resulting in a hydrogen selenide ion . This compound can then be phosphorylated by interacting with an ATP and releasing a AMP, a phosphate and a selenophosphate.

Selenium Metabolism References