40
3. Toxic Effects of Selenium in Fish
BELEWS LAKE
o
2
I
I
I
KILOMETER
STOKES
3 CO
TY
FIGURE 3.1. Geographic location of Belews Lake, North Carolina, USA. Numbers indicate: (1) Belews Creek Steam Station (coal-fired power plant); (2)
coal-ash settling basin; (3) ash basin return-water canal.
Biochemical Basis of Selenium Toxicity
The primary manifestations of selenium toxicity are due to a simple
but important selenium-induced error in the process of protein synthesis . Sulfur is a key component of proteins, and sulfur-to-sulfur linkages
(ionic disulfide bonds) between strands of amino acids are necessary
for protein molecules to coil into their tertiary (helix) structure. In
turn, this tertiary structure is necessary for proteins to function prop-
3. Toxic Effects of Selenium in Fish
BELEWS LAKE
o
2
I
I
I
KILOMETER
STOKES
3 CO
TY
FIGURE 3.1. Geographic location of Belews Lake, North Carolina, USA. Numbers indicate: (1) Belews Creek Steam Station (coal-fired power plant); (2)
coal-ash settling basin; (3) ash basin return-water canal.
Biochemical Basis of Selenium Toxicity
The primary manifestations of selenium toxicity are due to a simple
but important selenium-induced error in the process of protein synthesis . Sulfur is a key component of proteins, and sulfur-to-sulfur linkages
(ionic disulfide bonds) between strands of amino acids are necessary
for protein molecules to coil into their tertiary (helix) structure. In
turn, this tertiary structure is necessary for proteins to function prop-