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Review
. 2016 Oct;16(10):650-62.
doi: 10.1038/nrc.2016.81. Epub 2016 Sep 16.

Serine and one-carbon metabolism in cancer

Ming Yang  1 , Karen H Vousden  1
Affiliations
Review

Serine and one-carbon metabolism in cancer

Ming Yang et al. Nat Rev Cancer. 2016 Oct.

Abstract

The non-essential amino acid serine supports several metabolic processes that are crucial for the growth and survival of proliferating cells, including protein, amino acid and glutathione synthesis. As an important one-carbon donor to the folate cycle, serine contributes to nucleotide synthesis, methylation reactions and the generation of NADPH for antioxidant defence. Many cancer cells are highly dependent on serine, a trait that provides several novel therapeutic opportunities, either through the inhibition of de novo serine synthesis or by limiting the availability or uptake of exogenous serine.

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