Diversity and functional plasticity of eukaryotic selenoproteins:: Identification and characterization of the SelJ family

Selenoproteins are a diverse group of proteins that contain selenocysteine (Sec), the 21st amino acid. In the genetic code, UGA serves as a termination signal and a Sec codon. This dual role has precluded the automatic annotation of selenoproteins. Recent advances in the computational identification of selenoprotein genes have provided a first glimpse of the size, functions, and phylogenetic diversity of eukaryotic selenoproteomes. Here, we describe the identification of a selenoprotein family named SeIJ. In contrast to known selenoproteins, SeIJ appears to be restricted to actinopterygian fishes and sea urchin, with Cys homologues only found in cniclarians. SeIJ shows significant similarity to the jellyfish J1-crystallins and with them constitutes a distinct subfamily within the large family of ADP-ribosylation enzymes. Consistent with its potential role as a structural crystallin, SeIJ has preferential and homogeneous expression in the eye lens in early stages of zebrafish development. A structural role for SeIJ would be in contrast to the majority of known selenoenzymes. The unusually highly restricted phylogenetic distribution of SeIJ, its specialization, and the comparative analysis of eukaryotic selenoproteomes reveal the diversity and functional plasticity of selenoproteins and point to a mosaic evolution of the use of Sec in proteins.