Nucleosides Containing Selenium1II

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel selenonucleosides

A series of novel selenonucleoside analogues with 1,4-oxaselenane as the carbohydrate fragment has been synthesized from their corresponding dimesylated seconucleosides treated with NaHSe solution and subsequent deprotection. The synthesized selenonucleoside analogues were evaluated as potential antitumor agents.

Carcinogenesis as the result of the deficiency of some essential trace elements

"Energetic" biological trace elements [gallium (III), germanium (IV), silicon (silica), arsenic (V) and selenium (IV)] occurring in DNA of eukaryotic cells may improve the semiconductor properties of DNA and may influence the mechanisms that control genetic expression at the electronic level. Their roles are postulated as follows: (i) to maintain the level and direction of free sliding electrons in DNA, (ii) to modulate the electron conductivity and hole conductivity of DNA. This specific electronic nature of DNA take the form of magnetic pigeonholes in which an electric pulse is (0), or is not (1) stored as an area of local magnetisation. These types of conductivity occurring in different parts of DNA of different cells could participate in the switch on and switch off of genetic information in gene expression. This model may help to elucidate the mechanism of action of these naturally occurring antitumor agents and may help in understanding the role of trace elements in charge transport of DNA and in carcinogenesis.