What is the 21st Essential Amino Acid? (It's Selenocysteine)
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3 min read
In 1986, the discovery that the UGA stop codon could direct the incorporation of selenium, in the form of selenocysteine, into proteins revolutionized genetics. This unique amino acid, known as selenocysteine, stands apart from the 20 standard protein building blocks due to its complex biosynthesis and crucial function in a select group of proteins.
