Selenocysteine Lyase (SCLY)

Selenocysteine lyase (SCLY; EC 4.4.1.16) catalyzes the pyridoxal 5-prime phosphate-dependent conversion of L-selenocysteine to L-alanine and elemental selenium.

The deduced mouse protein has 432 amino acids. RT-PCR detected Scly expression in mouse brain, heart, lung, stomach, liver, kidney, spleen, and testis. Western blot analysis detected expression in all mouse tissues examined, with the highest expression in liver, kidney, and testis. Mouse Scly localized to the cytosolic fraction in mouse liver and formed homodimers.Scly catalyzed the conversion of L-selenocysteine to L-alanine. Scly activity required pyridoxal 5-prime phosphate, was specific to L-selenocysteine, and showed maximum reactivity at pH 9.0.