Methylselenocysteine treatment leads to diselenide formation in human cancer cells: evidence from X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies.

Abstract

The selenoamino acids methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys) and selenomethionine (SeMet) have disparate efficacies as anticancer agents. Herein, we use X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the chemical form of selenium in human neuroblastoma cells. Cells treated with MeSeCys contain a significant diselenide component, which is absent from SeMet-treated cells and suggests that metabolites of MeSeCys are capable of altering the redox status of the cells. The differences in the speciation of Se in the selenoamino acid-treated cells may provide insight into the differing anticancer activities of MeSeCys and SeMet.

• Authors: Claire M Weekley, Jade B Aitken, Ian F Musgrave, Hugh H Harris
• Journal: Biochemistry (Biochemistry) Vol. 51 Issue 3 Pg. 736-8 (Jan 24 2012) ISSN: 1520-4995 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22242710 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Benzene Derivatives
• Organoselenium Compounds
• Selenium Compounds
• selenol
• Selenocysteine
• diphenyldiselenide
• Cysteine
• selenomethylselenocysteine

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Benzene Derivatives (metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cysteine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Humans
• Organoselenium Compounds (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Selenium Compounds (metabolism)
• Selenocysteine (analogs & derivatives)
• X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (methods)