Reaction: L-serine = D-serine
Other name(s): SRR
Systematic name: serine racemase
Comments: A pyridoxal-phosphate protein that is highly selective for L-serine as substrate. D-Serine is found in type-II astrocytes in mammalian brain, where it appears to be an endogenous ligand of the glycine site of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors [1,2]. The reaction can also occur in the reverse direction but does so more showly at physiological serine concentrations [4].
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, PDB, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Wolosker, H., Blackshaw, S. and Snyder, S.H. Serine racemase: a glial enzyme synthesizing D-serine to regulate glutamate-N-methyl-D-aspartate neurotransmission. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96 (1999) 13409-13414. [PMID: 10557334]
2. Wolosker, H., Sheth, K.N., Takahashi, M., Mothet, J.P., Brady, R.O., Jr., Ferris, C.D. and Snyder, S.H. Purification of serine racemase: biosynthesis of the neuromodulator D-serine. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96 (1999) 721-725. [PMID: 9892700]
3. De Miranda, J., Santoro, A., Engelender, S. and Wolosker, H. Human serine racemase: moleular cloning, genomic organization and functional analysis. Gene 256 (2000) 183-188. [PMID: 11054547]
4. Foltyn, V.N., Bendikov, I., De Miranda, J., Panizzutti, R., Dumin, E., Shleper, M., Li, P., Toney, M.D., Kartvelishvily, E. and Wolosker, H. Serine racemase modulates intracellular D-serine levels through an α,β-elimination activity. J. Biol. Chem. 280 (2005) 1754-1763. [PMID: 15536068]