title: Serine racemase: an unconventional enzyme for an unconventional transmitter.
abstract: The discovery of large amounts of D-serine in the brain challenged the dogma that only L-amino acids are relevant for eukaryotes. The levels of D-serine in the brain are higher than many L-amino acids and account for as much as one-third of L-serine levels. Several studies in the last decades have demonstrated a role of D-serine as an endogenous agonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). D-Serine is required for NMDAR activity during normal neurotransmission as well as NMDAR overactivation that takes place in neurodegenerative conditions. Still, there are many unanswered questions about D-serine neurobiology, including regulation of its synthesis, release and metabolism. Here, we review the mechanisms of D-serine synthesis by serine racemase and discuss the lessons we can learn from serine racemase knockout mice, focusing on the roles attributed to D-serine and its cellular origin.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 31096, Haifa, Israel. hwolosker@tx.technion.ac.il
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Wolosker
authors: Hisashi
authors: H
authors: Mori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D000099300:Serine Racemase
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D012694:Serine; D000099300:Serine Racemase