Selenium and Sulfur: Serendipitous Candidates Contributing to Overall Plant Metabolism, Human and Animal Nutrition, and Health Care

Dear Colleagues,

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace nutrient that plays a critical role in humans and domesticated animals. Through different strategies, including agronomic biofortification and conventional and transgenic breeding, Se can enhance the nutritional quality of food crops and overcome Se deficiency and its implications for humans and animals. A breakthrough in the research of Se in humans was the discovery of glutathione peroxidase 4, a key selenoprotein enzyme in mammalian cell development.

Sulfur (S) is a macronutrient crucial for plant growth and development, humans, and animals. It is integral to the biosynthesis of S-containing amino acids, proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and numerous beneficial biomolecules. Both Se and S have similar chemicophysical characteristics. Sulfate and selenate are reduced to cysteine (Cys) and selenocysteine (SeCys) in the S and Se assimilatory pathways and act as the important donors of reduced S and Se for many S-and Se-containing metabolites.

We cordially invite researchers in the field to contribute contemporary coherent research and review papers. This Special Issue will bring together a new state-of-the-art into the chemical aspects of the biological processes that are of particular importance regarding Se and S, including (i) Se biological functions, such as maintaining homeostasis in animals and humans; (ii) the capacity of S to sustain plant cell mechanisms to ameliorate stress resistance ability through various S molecules; (iii) new insights into the roles/functions of Se and/or S and their influences on primary and secondary plant metabolisms; (iv) the impacts of Se and/or S on bioactive compounds; and (v) the contributions of Se and/or S to food security and sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Karl H. Mühling
Dr. Muna Ali Abdalla
Guest Editors

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