Se-(Methyl) selenocysteine hydrochloride has been used as a standard in fluorescence-XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy) imaging.
Selenium (Se)-(Methyl) selenocysteine (MeSeCys) is a methylated product of selenocysteine, this reaction is catalyzed by selenocysteine methyltransferase (SMT) in Astragalus bisulcatus.
Selenium (Se)-(Methyl) selenocysteine functions as a potent chemotherapeutic agent for human breast cancer. Enhanced production of methlylselenol from L-Se-methylselenocysteine in vivo alters redox status of cells and oxidatively triggers cellular apoptosis. It is implicated in inhibition of mammary tumor formation in rats.