Selenoprotein T is a key player in ER proteostasis, endocrine homeostasis and neuroprotection

Selenoprotein T (SELENOT, SELT) is a thioredoxin-like enzyme anchored at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, whose primary structure is highly conserved during evolution. SELENOT is abundant in embryonic tissues and its activity is essential during development since its gene knockout in mice is lethal early during embryogenesis. Although its expression is repressed in most adult tissues, SELENOT remains particularly abundant in endocrine organs such as the pituitary, pancreas, thyroid and testis, suggesting an important role of this selenoprotein in hormone production. Our recent studies showed indeed that SELENOT plays a key function in insulin and corticotropin biosynthesis and release by regulating ER proteostasis. Although SELENOT expression is low or undetectable in most cerebral structures, its gene conditional knockout in brain provokes anatomical alterations that impact mice behavior. This suggests that SELENOT also plays an important role in brain development and function. In addition, SELENOT is induced after injury in brain or liver and exerts a cytoprotective effect. Thus, the data gathered during the last ten years of intense investigation of this newly discovered thioredoxin-like enzyme point to an essential function during development and in adult endocrine organs or lesioned brain, most likely by regulating ER redox circuits that control homeostasis and survival of cells with intense metabolic activity.