Genetics of glutathione peroxidase

Abstract

Glutathione peroxidase is a selenoenzyme responsible for elimination of reactive oxygen species. Since its first identification in 1957 five isoforms have been typified.Several environmental factors, like feed composition, trace element status and vitamin intake, are known to affect the activity of this enzyme, but there are some publications suggesting significant role of genetics, as well. There are some preliminary population level studies on genetic regulation of the enzyme. More recently its molecular genetics was studied primarily. As a result several regulatory elements were identified both on transcriptional and on translational level, but still the full mechanism is not known. Principals of the correlation between glutathione peroxidase activity and production traits is also unclear. This paper is a review of the studies of the authors on this correlation in different livestock species.