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Distinctive features in the SelB family of elongation factors for selenoprotein synthesis. A glimpse of an evolutionary complexified translation apparatus
Author(s) -
Fagegaltier Delphine,
Carbon Philippe,
Krol Alain
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
biofactors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1872-8081
pISSN - 0951-6433
DOI - 10.1002/biof.5520140102
Subject(s) - selenocysteine , archaea , elongation factor , biology , selenoprotein , transfer rna , translation (biology) , gene , genetics , evolutionary biology , computational biology , biochemistry , ribosome , rna , enzyme , messenger rna , glutathione , glutathione peroxidase , cysteine
The last ten years have seen a dramatic increase in our understanding of the molecular mechanism allowing specific incorporation of selenocysteine into selenoproteins. Whether in prokaryotes or eukaryotes, this incorporation requires several gene products, among which the specialized elongation factor SelB and the tRNA Sec play a pivotal role. While the molecular actors have been discovered and their role elucidated in the eubacterial machinery, recent data from our and other laboratories pointed to a higher degree of complexity in archaea and eukaryotes. These findings also revealed that more needs to be discovered in this area. This review will focus on phylogenetic aspects of the SelB proteins. In particular, we will discuss the concerted evolution that occurred within the SelB/tRNA Sec couples, and also the distinctive roles carried out by the SelB C‐terminal domains in eubacteria on the one side, and archaea and eukaryotes, on the other.