Serine and glycine metabolism in cancer
- Trends Biochem Sci. 2014 Apr;39(4):191-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2014.02.004.
- 1. Medical Research Council, Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building, Leicester University, Lancaster Road, P.O. Box 138, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
- 2. Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
- 3. Medical Research Council, Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building, Leicester University, Lancaster Road, P.O. Box 138, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK.
- 4. Medical Research Council, Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building, Leicester University, Lancaster Road, P.O. Box 138, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK; Biochemistry Laboratory, IDI-IRCCS, and Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
Serine and glycine are biosynthetically linked, and together provide the essential precursors for the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids that are crucial to Cancer cell growth. Moreover, serine/glycine biosynthesis also affects cellular antioxidative capacity, thus supporting tumour homeostasis. A crucial contribution of serine/glycine to cellular metabolism is through the glycine cleavage system, which refuels one-carbon metabolism; a complex cyclic metabolic network based on chemical reactions of folate compounds. The importance of serine/glycine metabolism is further highlighted by genetic and functional evidence indicating that hyperactivation of the serine/glycine biosynthetic pathway drives oncogenesis. Recent developments in our understanding of these pathways provide novel translational opportunities for drug development, dietary intervention, and biomarker identification of human cancers.