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Cancer metabolism

Addicted to serine

Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is an enzyme of serine biosynthesis overexpressed in various types of cancer. A new series of PHGDH inhibitors selectively block proliferation of PHGDH-dependent cancer cells and reveal an unexpected role of serine biosynthesis in coordinating one-carbon metabolism.

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Figure 1: Schematic representation of serine metabolism and effects of PHGDH inhibitor NCT-503.

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Correspondence to Christian Frezza.

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Frezza, C. Addicted to serine. Nat Chem Biol 12, 389–390 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.2086

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