L-Serine ((-)-Serine; (S)-Serine), one of the so-called non-essential amino acids, plays a central role in cellular proliferation.
L-Serine is the predominant source of one-carbon groups for the de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides and deoxythymidine monophosphate. In cell cultures, L-Serine is a conditional essential amino acid, because it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities to meet the cellular demands for its utilization.L-Serine and the products of its metabolism have been recognized not only to be essential for cell proliferation, but also to be necessary for specific functions in the central nervous system[1].
References:
[1]. de Koning TJ, et al. L-Serine in disease and development. Biochem J. 2003 May 1;371(Pt 3):653-61.