Selenoenzymes

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Selenoenzymes

Unless otherwise stated all data on this page refer to the human proteins. Gene information is provided for human (Hs), mouse (Mm) and rat (Rn).

Overview

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Selenoenzymes are a family of catalytic proteins that contain at least one selenocysteine (Se-Cys) amino acid residue. In humans several selenoenzymes have been identified, including glutathione peroxidases (GPX), thioredoxin reductases (TrxR/TXNRD) and iodothyronine deiodinases (DIO).

Enzymes

3239

glutathione peroxidase 4 Show summary »« Hide summary

Target Id

3239

Nomenclature

glutathione peroxidase 4

Genes

GPX4 (Hs), Gpx4 (Mm), Gpx4 (Rn)

Ensembl ID

ENSG00000167468 (Hs), ENSMUSG00000075706 (Mm), ENSRNOG00000013604 (Rn)

UniProtKB AC

P36969 (Hs), O35560 (Mm), GPX4_RAT (Rn)

Inhibitors

GPX4 inhibitor C18 pIC₅₀ 6.9 [1]

ML162 pIC₅₀ 5.3 [1]

Comment

Glutathione peroxidase 4 is an antioxidant enzyme that is involved in the regulation of ferroptosis. Inhibition of GPX4 is being invesitgated as a mechanism to activate ferroptosis and induce cell death in difficult to treat tumours [2-5].

References

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1. Chen T, Leng J, Tan J, Zhao Y, Xie S, Zhao S, Yan X, Zhu L, Luo J, Kong L et al.. (2023) Discovery of Novel Potent Covalent Glutathione Peroxidase 4 Inhibitors as Highly Selective Ferroptosis Inducers for the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Med Chem, 66 (14): 10036-10059. [PMID:37452764]

2. Conrad M, Angeli JP, Vandenabeele P, Stockwell BR. (2016) Regulated necrosis: disease relevance and therapeutic opportunities. Nat Rev Drug Discov, 15 (5): 348-66. [PMID:26775689]

3. Forcina GC, Dixon SJ. (2019) GPX4 at the Crossroads of Lipid Homeostasis and Ferroptosis. Proteomics, 19 (18): e1800311. [PMID:30888116]

4. Lee J, Roh JL. (2023) Targeting GPX4 in human cancer: Implications of ferroptosis induction for tackling cancer resilience. Cancer Lett, 559: 216119. [PMID:36893895]

5. Seibt TM, Proneth B, Conrad M. (2019) Role of GPX4 in ferroptosis and its pharmacological implication. Free Radic Biol Med, 133: 144-152. [PMID:30219704]

How to cite this family page

Database page citation:

Selenoenzymes. Accessed on 01/04/2026. IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY, http://www.guidetopharmacology.org/GRAC/FamilyDisplayForward?familyId=1083.

Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY citation:

Alexander SPH, Fabbro D, Gibb AJ, Kelly E, Mathie AA, Peach CJ, Veale EL, Armstrong JF, Faccenda E, Harding SD, Southan C, Davies JA et al. (2025) The Concise Guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2025/26: Enzymes. Br J Pharmacol. 182: S307-S403.