Selenocysteine
Synonyms
3 Selenylalanine
3-Selenylalanine
L-Alanine, 3-selenyl-
Selenocysteine, DL Isomer
Selenocysteine, DL-Isomer
A naturally occurring amino acid in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. It is found in tRNAs and in the catalytic site of some enzymes. The genes for glutathione peroxidase and formate dehydrogenase contain the TGA codon, which codes for this amino acid.