Background: Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient required by avian species. Dietary Se/vitamin E deficiency induces three classical diseases in chicks: exudative diathesis, nutritional pancreatic atrophy, and nutritional muscular dystrophy.
Scope of review: This review is to summarize and analyze the evolution, regulation, and function of avian selenogenome and selenoproteome and their relationship with the three classical Se/vitamin E deficiency diseases.
Major conclusions: There are 24 selenoproteins confirmed in chicks, with two avian-specific members (SELENOU and SELENOP2) and two missing mammalian members (GPX6 and SELENOV). There are two forms of SELENOP containing 1 or 13 selenocysteine residues. In addition, a Gallus gallus gene was conjectured to be the counterpart of the human SEPHS2. Expression of selenoprotein genes in the liver, pancreas, and muscle of chicks seemed to be highly responsive to dietary Se changes. Pathogeneses of the Se/vitamin E deficient diseases in the chicks were likely produced by missing functions of selected selenoproteins in regulating cellular and tissue redox balance and inhibiting oxidative/reductive stress-induced cell death.
General significance: Gene knockout models, similar to those of rodents, will help characterize the precise functions of avian selenoproteins and their comparisons with those of mammalian species.
Keywords: Avian; Gene; Selenium; Selenoprotein; Tissue; Vitamin E.
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