nutrient
Serine
A non-essential amino acid used in proteins and one-carbon metabolism.
Educational draft · Human scientific and editorial review pending. About review status
Serine can be made from glycolytic intermediates, and its polar side chain forms hydrogen bonds in proteins.
How it works
A polar side chain with metabolic links
Serine connects protein structure with central metabolism: its hydroxyl side chain contributes polarity, while its carbon portion can enter one-carbon and pyruvate-related pathways.
Related topics
Serine is used to build Protein
Serine is one of the amino acids used to assemble proteins.
Evidence: Established · Source checked 2026-09-05 · Sources: NIH National Library of Medicine: Biochemistry, Essential Amino Acids
Worth knowing
Its carbon skeleton can enter pyruvate. During catabolism, serine can contribute its carbon skeleton to pyruvate.
A closer look
Its use follows the free amino-acid pool
Serine can be incorporated into new protein or broken down as tissue needs change.
References
Source-checked local draft.
Human editorial review pending.
- NIH National Library of Medicine (opens in new tab)Biochemistry, Essential Amino AcidsChecked 2026-09-05
- NIH National Library of Medicine (opens in new tab)Biochemistry, Protein CatabolismChecked 2026-09-05
- NIH National Library of Medicine (opens in new tab)Biochemistry, Primary Protein StructureChecked 2026-09-05
- NIH National Library of Medicine (opens in new tab)Biochemistry, Collagen SynthesisChecked 2026-09-05
Take it into the kitchen
Explore this nutrient in simple meals. Recipe pages show estimated amounts and missing data.
Chicken corn tortilla fold · 20 min →
Green bean peanut tofu · 25 min →
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