Serine, but Not Glycine, Supports One-Carbon Metabolism and Proliferation of Cancer Cells

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.04.045
• Publication Date: 2014-05-10T00:31:19Z
• Authors: Christiaan F. Lab...; Niels J.F. van de...; Gillian M. Mackay; Karen H. Vousden; Oliver D.K. Maddocks
• Keywords: Glycine cleavage system

Previous work has shown that some cancer cells are highly dependent on serine/glycine uptake for proliferation. Although serine and glycine can be interconverted either might used nucleotide synthesis one-carbon metabolism, we show exogenous cannot replace to support cell Cancer selectively consumed serine, which was converted intracellular units building nucleotides. Restriction of or depletion the cleavage system did not impede In absence unable synthesis. Indeed, higher concentrations inhibited Under these conditions, a reaction would deplete pool. Providing by adding formate rescued growth glycine-fed cells. We conclude proliferation supported serine—rather than glycine—consumption.