In enzymology, a selenide, water dikinase (EC 2.7.9.3) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
ATP + selenide + H2O ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } AMP + selenophosphate + phosphate The 3 substrates of this enzyme are ATP, selenide, and H2O, whereas its 3 products are AMP, selenophosphate, and phosphate. This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, to be specific, those transferring phosphorus-containing groups (phosphotransferases) with paired acceptors (dikinases). The systematic name of this enzyme class is ATP:selenide, water phosphotransferase. This enzyme is also called selenophosphate synthetase. This enzyme participates in selenoamino acid metabolism.
Evolution Vertebrates including humans carry two versions of this enzyme, with one (SEPHS2) being a selenoprotein and the other (SEPHS1) replacing it with a threonine, though still with a vestigial SECIS element. Analysis of animal versions of this enzyme show that the original animal version is a selenoprotein, with SEPHS1 arising later through gene duplication. Among prokaryotes, most bacteria have a version with cystine instad of selenocystine, suggesting that this may be the ancestral state (which would avoid the chicken-and-egg problem). Some have two versions, one with Sec and the other with Cys. Archaea mostly have the Sec version.
References
Veres Z, Tsai L, Scholz TD, Politino M, Balaban RS, Stadtman TC (1992). "Synthesis of 5-methylaminomethyl-2-selenouridine in tRNAs: 31P NMR studies show the labile selenium donor synthesized by the selD gene product contains selenium bonded to phosphorus". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89 (7): 2975–9. Bibcode:1992PNAS...89.2975V. doi:10.1073/pnas.89.7.2975. PMC 48786. PMID 1557403.
