Selenocysteine

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Selenocysteine is an amino acid that has the same side-chain as a normal cysteine molecule, but with the sulphur atom replaced with a selenium atom. This gives it the side chain -CH(NH2)-CH2-SeH. Although much more uncommon than the other 20 amino acids used to make most proteins, selenocysteine appears in a few proteins that carry out redox reactions[1].

References

1. Stadman T.C. (1974). "Selenium Biochemistry". Science 183(4128): 915-22. PMID 4605100

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