What Challenges Exist in Utilizing SECIS for Catalysis?
Despite its potential, there are several challenges in utilizing SECIS for catalysis:
- Complexity of Expression Systems: The machinery required for selenocysteine incorporation is more complex than for standard amino acids, making it difficult to express selenoproteins in heterologous systems. - Codon Context: The efficiency of selenocysteine insertion can be highly dependent on the nucleotide context surrounding the UGA codon and the structure of the SECIS element itself. - Regulation and Stability: The stability of selenoproteins and their regulation within cells can pose additional hurdles.
