Evolution of SelenoP​

Selenoprotein P (SelenoP) is the only mammalian selenoprotein with two SECIS elements, supporting insertion of many selenocysteine residues: it has 10 in mouse in human, but it reaches up to 132 in bivalves. This artwork depicts our study of the evolution of SelenoP in metazoa, featuring the rapid divergence of its selenocysteine-rich tail in the lineages shown. On top, the SelenoP transcript with two translating ribosomes is represented, including the characteristic structural elements of this mRNA (SREs and SECISes). This is sketched to form a 'selenop' shaped signature.
 
Illustration by Milena Biolcati Rinaldi and Marco Mariotti. Concept by Marco Mariotti. 

Research paper: Baclaocos et al., 2019, J Mol Bio, 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.08.0074:759-765.