Selenium metabolites in human urine after ingestion of selenite, <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>-selenomethionine,or <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">DL</Emphasis>-selenomethionine: a quantitative case study by HPLC/ICPMS

To obtain quantitative information on human metabolism of selenium, we have performed selenium speciation analysis by HPLC/ICPMS on samples of human urine from one volunteer over a 48-hour period after ingestion of selenium (1.0 mg) as sodium selenite, L-selenomethionine, or DL-selenomethionine. The three separate experiments were performed in duplicate. Normal background urine from the volunteer contained total selenium concentrations of 8–30 μg Se/L (n=22) but, depending on the chromatographic conditions, only about 30–70% could be quantified by HPLC/ICPMS. The major species in background urine were two selenosugars, namely methyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-seleno-β-D-galactopyranoside (selenosugar 1) and its deacylated analog methyl-2-amino-2-deoxy-1-seleno-β-D-galactopyranoside (selenosugar 3). Selenium was rapidly excreted after ingestion of the selenium compounds: the peak concentrations (∼250–400 μg Se/L, normalized concentrations) were recorded within 5–9 hours, and concentrations had returned to close to background levels within 48 hours, by which time 25–40% of the ingested selenium, depending on the species ingested, had been accounted for in the urine. In all experiments, the major metabolite was selenosugar 1, constituting either ∼80% of the total selenium excreted over the first 24 hours after ingestion of selenite or L-selenomethionine or ∼65% after ingestion of DL-selenomethionine. Selenite was not present at significant levels (<1 μg Se/L) in any of the samples; selenomethionine was present in only trace amounts (∼1 μg/L, equivalent to less than 0.5% of the total Se) following ingestion of L-selenomethionine, but it constituted about 20% of the excreted selenium (first 24 hours) after ingestion of DL-selenomethionine, presumably because the D form was not efficiently metabolized. Trimethylselenonium ion, a commonly reported urine metabolite, could not be detected (<1 μg/L) in the urine samples after ingestion of selenite or selenomethionine. Cytotoxicity studies on selenosugar 1 and its glucosamine isomer (selenosugar 2, methyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-seleno-β-D-glucosopyranoside) were performed with HepG2 cells derived from human hepatocarcinoma, and these showed that both compounds had low toxicity (about 1000-fold less toxic than sodium selenite). The results support earlier studies showing that selenosugar 1 is the major urinary metabolite after increased selenium intake, and they suggest that previously accepted pathways for human metabolism of selenium involving trimethylselenonium ion as the excretionary end product may need to be re-evaluated.     

Enhancement of Sensitivity for Selenium Determination in Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry by Introducting Hydrogen Selenide into an Argon-Hydrogen Flame

Abstract

The sensitivity for selenium determination with atomic absorption spectrophotometry is enhanced to a large extent by introducing hydrogen selenide gas into an argon-hydrogen flame. As a reducing agent, zinc granular and stannous chloride is successfully used for quantitative and rapid productions of hydrogen selenide from selenium(IV) solution. The sensitivity for 1 % absorption of the signal is estimated to be about 0.02 ppm of selenium.     

Extraction,Spectrophotometric, and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Determination of Selenium With N-Phenylbenzohydroxamic Acid

Abstract

Solvent extraction spectrophotometric and atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods for the determination of selenium(IV) in microgram quantities are described. The selenium(IV) forms yellow colored complex with N-phenylbenzohydroxamic acid (PBHA) extractable into chloroform from 7 M HClO₄. Se-PBHA complex has maximum absorbance at 345 nm with a molar absorptivity 1.5 × 10⁵ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1 and Sandell's sensitivity 0.000526 μg /cm². Effect of molarity, reagent concentration, diverse ions on the extraction of selenium complex were studied. The selenium is determined in presence of tellurium.     

Synthesis,Reactivities, and Unique Solution Properties of 4,8-BIS(Diethylamino)-Methylene-1,2,3,5,6,7-Hexaselenacyclooctane

The heading novel heterocycle (3) which contains six selenium atoms in its eight-membered ring was prepared by reaction of 1,1-bis(diethylamino)-2-chloroethene (1) with elemental selenium. The compound 3 showed unique spectroscopic properties behaving as the bis(diethylamino)carbeniumdiselenocarboxylate (4) equivalent in reactivities.     

Reaction of Tricoordinate Phosphorus Compounds with Pseudohalogens. Scope and Mechanism

Abstract

The selectivity of sulphur, selenium and oxygen removal from pseudohalogens: phosphorus disulphides 1 and 2, diselenides 3 and oxophosphoranesulphenyl chlorides 4 has been investigated. A mechanistic rationalization is proposed to account for sulphur (selenium)/oxygen extrusion variation as a function of substrates structure and reaction conditions.     

TISSUE SELENIUM LEVELS AND GROWTH RESPONSES OF MICE FED SELENOMETHIONINE,SE-METHYLSELENOCYSTEINE OR SODIUM SELENITE

Abstract

Mice fed diets containing selenomethionine at a level of 20 ppm selenium and raised to 30 ppm selenium at 3 weeks on experiment showed (1) delayed response to selenium toxicity, (2) slow recovery from the toxicity after removal of selenium from the diet and (3) relatively high deposition and retention of tissue selenium. These data suggest that selenomethonine initially becomes incorporated in to the primary structure of proteins and as such is not particularly toxic. However, upon its slow removal from protein, selenomethionine becomes toxic by forming selenium IV compounds through a pathway similar to that followed by methionine.

Mice fed diets containing sodium selenite or Se-methylselenocysteine at the same level of selenium as the selenomethionine diet showed (1) immediate response to selenium toxicity (2) rapid recovery from the toxicity after removal of selenium from the diet and (3) relatively low deposition and relatively rapid depletion of tissue selenium. These data suggest that sodium selenite and Se-methylselenocysteine ultimately follow similar metabolic pathways and do not become part of the primary structure of proteins. A possible metabolic route for Se-methylselenocysteine is that it is oxidized to toxic selenium IV compounds through an oxidative pathway similar to that followed by S-methylcysteine.     

P-Chiral Thioxaphosphoranesulphenyl Chlorides RR1 P(S)SC1. A New Tool in Stereochemistry of Organophosphorus-Sulphur Compounds

Abstract

Phosphoranesulphenyl halides of the general formula RR'P(Y)SX and their selenium analogues RR'P(Y)SeX (X=Cl,Br; Y=O,S) have been shown to be useful intermediates for access to many new classes of compounds con-taining phosphorus, sulphur, or selenium centers.'     

Flameless Atomic Absorption Determination of Volatile Hydrides Using Cold Trap Collection

Abstract

The hydrides of arsenic, antimony, bismuth, and selenium are collected in a liquid nitrogen cold trap and then volatilized into either an argon-entrained air-hydrogen flame or into a Perkin-Elmer HGA-2000 Graphite Furnace for atomic absorption measurement. Flameless atomization results in approximately ten-fold lower detection limits. The sensitivities and detection limits in nanograms are, respectively, 1.0 and 0.2 for arsenic, 5.6 and 1 for antimony, 2.0 and 1 for bismuth, and 40 and 10 for selenium.     

The Reaction of α-Amino-Substituted Diphenylphosphine Oxides with Elemental Sulfur and Selenium. A New Route to Thio- and Selenoamides

Abstract

Lithiated α-amino-substituted diphenylphosphine oxides 1 showed an interesting reactivity towards sulfur and selenium, leading to the formation of thioamides 2 and selenoamides 3, which could be isolated in good yields. Two equivalents of the chalcogene were found to be needed for complete conversion of the phosphine oxide anions. In the case of sulfur, diphenylphosphinothioic acid 4 was isolated as a side product, thus explaining the stoichiometry of the reaction (Scheme 1).     

Determination of Selenium (IV) in Biological Sample by Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry

Abstract

The determination of selenium (IV) in biological sample using cathodic stripping voltammetry is reported. It was found possible to determine selenium directly in biological samples containing such metals as zinc (II), lead (II), iron (III), arsenic (III) and magnesium (II). The results for selenium in bovine liver are reported.     

Stereo- and Site-Selectivity in the Reaction of Chiral Episelenonium Ion with Carbon Nucleophile

Abstract

There are two important aspects in the reaction of chiral episelenonium ion (episelenonium ion bearing chiral carbon in the three-membered ring) with carbon nucleophile; namely, (1) whether the chiral carbon racemizes during the reaction or not, and (2) the carbon nucleophile attacks the carbon atom (carbophilic attack) or selenium atom (selenophilic attack) in the three-membered ring. When carbon nucleophile such as alkenyl silyl ethers, trimethylsilyl cyanide, and allyltrimethyl-silane are employed, steric protection of the selenium atom by the attachment of tri-tert-butylphenyl (TTBP) group to the selenium atom is inevitable to avoid both of the racemization of the chiral carbon atom and selenophilic attack of the carbon nucleophile. When aromatic compounds are employed as carbon nucleophile, on the other hand, selenophilic attack is rarely observed irrespective of the nature of the aryl group on the selenium atom and introduction of electron withdrawing group into the aryl group on the selenium atom is effective to retard the racemization of the chiral carbon atom.     

Catalytic Determination of Selenium in Human Hair by Polarography Using Glutathione

Abstract

A catalytic polarographic method has been proposed for the accurate determination of selenium in human hair. This method is based on the formation of Se(0)-GSH complex in alkaline medium which gives a catalytic reduction wave in polarography. The current observed is directly proportional to the amount of selenium present. The method has been applied for the determination of selenium in human hair and the recovery of added selenium from hair is found to be 97.5 to 102%. A suitable mechanism for the reduction process involving the catalytic reduction of oxidised glutathione is proposed.     

Pervaporation as a Separation Technique for Direct Determination of Volatile Selenium Species by Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

Abstract

This paper reports for the first time a suitable way to determine methylated selenium compounds using the new approach of pervaporation coupled to atomic fluorescence spectrcmetry (PV-AFS).

The method developed allows direct extraction, separation, preconcentration and determination of dimethylselenium (DMSe) and dimethyldiselenium (DMDSe) from slurry samples. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits (LODs) were found to be 0.66 ng and 0.39 ng for DMSe and DMDSe, respectively, the precision being about 6–9 % for 10 ng mL as selenium concentration. The linearity ranges were from the LOD to 0.7 μg mL^?1 for DMSe and from the LOD to 0.4 μg mL^?1 for DMDSe (as Se). The pervaporation efficiencies were 55 ± 1 % and 85 ± 5 % for DMSe and DMDSe, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine methylated selenium species in sewage sludge, garlic and oyster samples. The concentrations found were from 0.07 to 1.42 μg g^?1.

As no certified reference materials are available for these analytes, validation was carried out by recovery studies in these matrices, and the results showed that the proposed method performed satisfactorily.     

Determination of Selenium in Natural Waters Using the Centrifugal Photometric Analyzer

Abstract

A rapid ion exchange separation converts the methylene blue spot test for selenium into a selective and sensitive method for quantitative determination of trace quantities of selenium. Increased speed, accuracy, and reproducibility is achieved because of the parallel analysis technique of the centrifugal photometric analyzer (GeMSAEC Fast Analyzer). Natural water samples, spiked with 0.10 to 0.5 μg of selenium, were analyzed with an average accuracy of 4.2 % after removal of interferences by ion exchange.     

Sorption-spectroscopic determination of selenium using a PANV-AV-17 fibrous ion-exchanger

The possibility of determining selenium on the solid phase of polyacrylonitrile fibers impregnated by an AV-17 anion-exchanger ([PANV-AV-17]) were examined by virtue of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Reactions of a complex formation between selenium(IV) and organic reagents on solid phase as well as the formation of an elemental selenium sol both on the solid phase and in solution followed by absorption were studied. The best analytical parameters were achieved in the adsorption of selenium sol formed in solution upon the addition of ascorbic acid. The comparison of the batch and dynamic adsorption modes revealed greater advances of the dynamic one. The optimal conditions for determining selenium were proved as follows: the formation of a selenium sol in a 1% ascorbic acid solution at pH 2 and dynamic adsorption at a flow rate of 5 mL/min. A procedure was developed for determining selenium with a limit of detection of 0.1 mg/L. The procedure was validated by the added-found method in the analysis of river and well natural waters and also the standard specimen OSO-200-90, which also contained As, Bi, Sb, and PO₄³⁻. The duration of analysis for 5–6 samples of the volume 100 mL was 30 min approximately, RSD < 20%.     

Specific Occurence of Selenium in Certain Enzymes and Amino Acid Transfer Ribonucleic Acids

Abstract

Some enzymes known to contain selenium are enumerated. In four of them which catalyze coupled oxidation-reduction reactions the selenium occurs exclusively in the form of selenocysteine residues. Their structure and function are described in detail. Two other bacterial enzymes which contain selenium in the form of a labile, readily dissociable component are also described.

Results on the isolation, identification and structure determination of selenium-containing amino acid transfer ribonucleic acids are presented. These seleno-t RNA's are shown to contain either 5-methyl-aminomethyl-2-selenouridine or other 2-selenouridine derivatives. The role of selenium in a glutamate iso-accepter species is discussed.     

Zur Oxydation von 2,3-Dimethylchinoxalin und 2,4-Dimethylchinazolin mit Selendioxid

Summary The primary oxidation products of 2,3-dimethylquinoxaline with selenium dioxide are 3-methylquinoxaline-2-carbaldehyde, 1,3-dihydro-1,3-dihydroxyfuro[3,4-b]quinoxaline and quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid. 3-Methylquinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid can be obtained in a second oxidation step only. 2,4-Dimethylquinazoline is dehydrogenated by selenium dioxide to the heterocyclic stilbene derivative8. Confirmation of structure of8 is given by NMR-spectroscopy.

     

Atomic Fluorescence Determination of Selenium Using Hydride Generation Technique

Abstract

Hydride generation followed by atomic fluorescence spectrometry, a simple and very sensitive technique, has been evaluated for selenium analysis in different environmental and biological samples. Research is focused on the interfering effects of several selected anions, cations, and acids on the selenium determination and the sample preparation procedures. Besides some transition metals such as Ni²⁺ Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺ HNO₃ acid, the digestion medium used for sample preparation, shows strong interference. In order to reduce this interfering effect, matrix match or standard addition is recommended. This technique is validated by analyzing a number of standard reference materials. Results for selenium analysis in some biological samples are also presented.     

Spectrophotometric Catalytic Determination of Trace Amounts of Selenium Based on the Reduction of Azurea by Sulphide

ABSTRACT

A sensitive catalytic kinetic spectrophotometric method for determining ng ml^?1 concentrations of selenium is described. The method, based on the catalytic effect of Se (IV) on the reduction of azureA by sulphide, is monitored spectrophotometrically at 600 nm. The linearity range of the calibration graph is dependent on the concentration of sulphide. The variables affecting the rate of the reaction were investigated and the optimum conditions were established. The method is simple, rapid, precise, sensitive, free from many interferences and is widely applicable. The limit of detection is 2.5ng ml^?1 of Se. The relative standard deviation of seven determinations of 100 ng ml^?1 Se was 1.5%. The method was applied to the determination of selenium in spiked water, Kjeldahl tablets, synthetic samples and health care products.     

Regiospecific Functionalization of Dimetalated (1-Naphthyl)acetylene. Efficient Synthetic Procedures for Naphtho[2,1-b]chalcophenes

Treatment of (1-naphthyl)acetylene (1) with two mol equivalents of the BuLi-t-BuOK reagent in tetrahydrofuran/hexane, followed by successive addition of anhydrous lithium bromide, sulfur, selenium, or tellurium and t-butylalcohol gives naphtho[2,1-b]thiophene, -selenophene and -tellurophene in good yields. Reaction of dimetalated 1 with iodine or dimethyldisulfide afforded 2-iodo-, and 2-thiomethyl(1-ethylnyl)naphthalene.