Serine is formed from the glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate in a three-step pathway beginning with the conversion of 3-phosphorylglycerate hydroxyl group to a ketone yielding 3-phosphohydroxypyruvate. Transamination of 3-phosphohydroxypyruvate forms phosphoserine that, upon hydrolysis, yields serine.

Is serine naturally occurring?

L-serine is a naturally occurring dietary amino acid. It is abundant in soy products, sweet potatoes, eggs, meat, and some edible seaweed. L-serine is also sold as a dietary supplement in capsule and powder forms.

How is serine synthesized from glycine?

There are two potential ways that serine could be produced from glycine via the glyoxalate pathway as seen in Figure 1: 1) by deamination of glycine before its conversion to serine by SHMT, and 2) loss of an amino group by glycine with subsequent donation of the "B" CH2-THF to another glycine molecule.