Question:medium

Selenocysteine is associated with which of the following?

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Think of the selenoenzyme that converts T4 to T3.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Carbonic anhydrase
  • Catalase
  • Deiodinase
  • Transferase
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Begin with what makes selenocysteine special. It carries the trace element selenium and is incorporated co-translationally at the catalytic centre of a small family of redox enzymes called selenoproteins.

Step 2: Classic selenoproteins are glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase and the deiodinases. The deiodinase enzymes remove iodine from thyroid hormone, turning T4 into the metabolically active T3, and they depend on a selenocysteine residue for activity.

Step 3: Checking the choices against this list, deiodinase is the only true selenoenzyme present.

Step 4: The remaining enzymes rely on other cofactors. Carbonic anhydrase needs zinc, catalase needs an iron-porphyrin (heme), and transferase is just a broad reaction class, none of which involve selenium.

\[\boxed{\text{Deiodinase}}\]
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