Studies on selenium incorporation into, and electron transfer function of, liver microsomal fractions from normal and vitamin E deficient rats given phenobarbitone

C. P.J. Caygill, A. T. Diplock, E. H. Jeffery

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The incorporation of 75Se from Na275SeO3 into the liver endoplasmic reticulum of rats given phenobarbitone was investigated by using a zonal centrifuge technique. It was found that, in rats deprived of vitamin E, or of vitamin E and selenium, phenobarbitone was without effect on the incorporation of 75 Se or on its conversion to 75 Se2-. When vitamin E was given at the same time as the phenobarbitone and 75Se, there was a large increase in the amount of 75Se and 75 Se2- found in the smooth reticulum. It is concluded that there may be a specific vitamin E dependent role for selenium and selenide in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and it is suggested, in the light of these and other observations, that the selenide may form a part of the active center of a non hem iron containing protein 'X', that may function in microsomal electron transport. Measurements of the contents of cytochromes P 450 and b5 in liver microsomal fractions of rats given vitamin E deficient, and vitamin E and selenium deficient diets, showed that hemoprotein biosynthesis is unimpaired in these rats and phenobarbitone treatment resulted in the expected increase in the hemoproteins. When the reduction of cytochrome P 450 by NADH and NADPH was measured, no difference was found between normal and deficient animals. These results are discussed in relation to current knowledge of microsomal electron transfer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)851-858
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical Journal
Volume136
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1973
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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