L-serine synthesis via the phosphorylated pathway in humans.

L-serine synthesis via the phosphorylated pathway in humans. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2020 Jun 27;: Authors: Murtas G, Marcone GL, Sacchi S, Pollegioni L Abstract L-serine is a nonessential amino acid in eukaryotic cells, used for protein synthesis and in producing phosphoglycerides, glycerides, sphingolipids, phosphatidylserine, and methylenetetrahydrofolate. Moreover, L-serine is the precursor of two relevant coagonists of NMDA receptors: glycine (through the enzyme serine hydroxymethyltransferase), which preferentially acts on extrasynaptic receptors and D-serine (through the enzyme serine racemase), dominant at synaptic receptors. The cytosolic "phosphorylated pathway" regulates de novo biosynthesis of L-serine, employing 3-phosphoglycerate generated by glycolysis and the enzymes 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, phosphoserine aminotransferase, and phosphoserine phosphatase (the latter representing the irreversible step). In the human brain, L-serine is primarily found in glial cells and is supplied to neurons for D-serine synthesis. Serine-deficient patients show severe neurological symptoms, including congenital microcephaly, psychomotor retardation, and intractable seizures, thus highlighting the relevance of de novo production of this amino acid in brain development and morphogenesis. Indeed, the phosphorylated pathway is strictly linked to cancer. Moreover, L-serine has been suggested as a ready-to-use treatment, as also recently ...
Source: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS - Category: Cytology Authors: Tags: Cell Mol Life Sci Source Type: research