Selenoprotein P (SeP: the “P” denotes its presence in plasma) is a selenium-rich extracellular protein and is the major selenoprotein in plasma.
All selenoproteins so far reported contain one atom of selenium (Se) as selenocysteine per molecule except SeP, which is thought to contain ten atoms of Se as selenocysteine per molecule. SeP accounts for more than 50% of the selenium content in plasma.
SeP is a potentially multifunctional protein with both enzymatic and Se-transport activities that plays a central role in body Se transport and maintaining tissue Se hierarch.
Research shows that SeP affects Aβ and hyperphosphorylated tau aggregation and toxicity in addition to interacting with redox-active metals in the brain, such as Cu, Fe, and Hg. It is capable of antioxidant enzyme activity and appears to possess signaling functions via neuronal ApoER2.
Selenoprotein P
