Arsenic-Selenium And Mercury-Selenium Bonds in Biology
When rabbits are simultaneous injected with arsenite and selenite or mercuric chloride and selenite, compounds with As-Se and Hg-Se bonds are formed in the bloodstream. The combined application of liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has revealed the molecular structure of these toxicologically important compounds and provided insight into their mechanism of formation. The glutathione-driven formation of these compounds in the bloodstream fundamentally links the metabolism of the environmental pollutants mercuric mercury and arsenite with that of the essential ultratrace element selenium, which establishes a feasible mechanism by which the chronic low-level exposure of various human populations to these toxic metals and metalloid compounds is linked to human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Research Organization:
- Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- OSTI ID:
- 909797
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-REPRINT-2007-098
- Journal Information:
- Coord.Chem.Rev.251:234-254,2007, Journal Name: Coord.Chem.Rev.251:234-254,2007 Vol. 251; ISSN 0010-8545; ISSN CCHRAM
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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