Overview of the biochemistry and biology of selenoneine

Abstract

Selenoneine (SEN) is one of the major organic selenium (Se) species present in fish and was initially identified in the blood of bluefin tuna. SEN is a selenium analog of ergothioneine (EGT), which is well known as a radical scavenger, with SEN exhibiting greater radical scavenging capacity than EGT. SEN is expected to have beneficial health functions due to its radical scavenging capacity, and elucidation of its biochemical and physiological functions in vivo may reveal additionally unknown functions. Herein, we systematically review previous SEN studies and comprehensively discuss SEN concentrations observed in various organisms including humans. Moreover, we describe the chemical, biochemical and biological properties of SEN. The current limitations of the research on SEN are shown to indicate the future studies required on understanding SEN.