Description
Selenium is an essential trace element for the human body. Although this chalcogen can form a wide variety of compounds, there are surprisingly few small-molecule organoselenide compounds (OSeCs) in biology. The amino acid selenomethionine (SeMet) is an example. L-Selenomethionine is the amino acid methionine with selenium substituting for the sulphur moiety. Methionine is an essential amino acid in humans, whereas selenium is a free-radical scavenging anti-oxidant, essential for the protection of various tissues from the damages of lipid peroxidation.