We are pleased to announce the seminar:
SELENIUM ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: CHEMICAL INSIGHT ON THEIR ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIVIRAL ACTION THROUGH COMPUTATIONAL MODELLING
Laura Orian
Department of Chemical Sciences
University of Padova
ABSTRACT
For more than fifty years, organoselenium compounds have been prepared and studied for their potential antioxidant glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mimetic activity (1,2). This family of enzymes is involved in keeping at bay oxidative stress in the cell by reducing hydroperoxides. This occurs thanks to the presence of selenium, which is found in the catalytic pocket in the form of selenocysteine (3). Unfortunately, so far, no successful application of Se-based GPx mimics has been reported (1). In contrast, the most popular organoselenium compound, i.e. ebselen (1,2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) has proved to be a promising drug in various contexts including as antiviral (4). The theoretical analysis of the elementary reactions in which organoselenium compounds are involved may provide a (chemical) unified picture of the biological as well as pharmacological role of this element. Mechanistic results on the redox (bio)chemistry of selenoproteins and selenocompounds will be illustrated and rationalized.
WHEN: Friday 29th September 2023, 11:00-12:00
WHERE: Room 1A (1rst floor), Building D, Main Campus, University of Trieste
Last updated on: 09/27/2023 - 12:30
