APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR ANALYTICAL METHODS IN THE INVESTIGATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF NEW SELENOPROTEINS

Nuclear methods have been applied in the investigation of selenium-con taining proteins in rat tissues. Selenium was determined in tissues, c ells, and cellular compartments by instrumental neutron activation ana lysis via Se-77m or Se-75. For tracer studies, the selenium compounds were labeled in vivo by administering Se-75 with a high specific activ ity to rats. Quantitative determination of very small amounts of the e lement in protein fractions was achieved by measurement of the tracer after replenishment of selenium-depleted animals with the labeled elem ent. The application of the nuclear methods in the detection, characte rization, and identification of new selenium-containing proteins is sh own with the help of some examples.