GLYCINE

GLYCINE

GLYCINE

Glycine is one of 20 amino acids found in proteins in the

up human body

It is considered a nonessential amino acid as it can be

synthesized by our bodies, specifically in the liver

Structurally, it is the smallest of the 20 amino acids

Its chemical formula is C2H5NO2

It is made with the codons GGU, GGC, GGA, GGG

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FUNCTIONS & EFFECTS

A main function of glycine in the body is as a component

in making other proteins. It is the second most common
amino acid found in proteins

it is required in the synthesis of nucleic acids including

DNA and RNA

it is also required in the synthesis of bile acids and

porphyrins such as heme which is found in
hemoglobin
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FUNCTIONS & EFFECTS

Another function of glycine is as a neurotransmitter

Glycine is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the

central nervous system or in the brain and vertebrate
or spinal cord of animals (including humans)

Here, it is a part of controlling various motor and

sensory functions

When glycine receptors are activated, chloride ions

enter the neuron which causes polarization of the cell
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FUNCTIONS & EFFECTS

Glycine has many medicinal uses, it is used for treating

stoke, schizophrenia, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and a
few rare genetic metabolic disorders

Other medicinal uses include protecting kidneys from the

harmful side effect of a certain drugs after an organ
transplant and protecting the liver from the negative
effects of alcohol, and memory enhancement
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RECENT STUDIES ON GLYCINE

On improving sleep

Japanese researchers have found that glycine subjectively

and objectively improves sleep quality in people who
have difficulty sleeping and suffering from insomnia as it
was found to decrease core body temperature and
increase vasodilatation which decreases blood pressure

Moreover, in an experiment conducted on volunteers who

had their sleep restricted for 3 nights, taking glycine
supplements caused reduced levels of fatigue and daytime
sleepiness
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RECENT STUDIES ON GLYCINE

On inhibiting proliferation of cancer cells

Previous research has shown that cancer cells are highly

dependent on either serine or glycine uptake to proliferate

The two are interconvertible, however, more recent

research conducted has revealed that it is serine that
cancers cells need for one-carbon metabolism for
nucleotide synthesis, and glycine cannot replace this

Higher concentrations of glycine inhibited this proliferation

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SOURCES
http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/image/imagefly.cgi?cid=750&width=500&height=500

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003372.htm

http://neuroscience.uth.tmc.edu/s1/chapter13.html

https://www.acnp.org/g4/GN401000008/Default.htm

http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0000140.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11396606

http://www.tysonnutraceuticals.com/Glycine02.htm

http://www.bio.tu-darmstadt.de/media/projektname/agpdfs/aglaube/Fig1homepage.jpg

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1072-glycine.aspx?
activeingredientid=1072&activeingredientname=glycine

http://www.benbest.com/science/anatmind/anatmd10.html#glycine

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328957/

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124714003477