Sarcosine (N-Methylglycine)
Intermediate between DMG and glycine; donates methyl group to folate; elevated in prostate cancer.
Sarcosine (N-methylglycine) is an intermediate in the metabolism of choline to glycine. It is formed when DMG loses a methyl group to tetrahydrofolate via DMG dehydrogenase, and is subsequently demethylated to glycine by sarcosine dehydrogenase, again donating a methyl group to THF.
Both enzymes are mitochondrial and require FAD (riboflavin). Sarcosine can also be formed from glycine by glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT), which uses SAMe - this reaction is a safety valve to prevent SAMe accumulation. Sarcosine has gained attention as a biomarker for aggressive prostate cancer.
It has also been studied as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia due to its action as an NMDA receptor co-agonist at the glycine site.
Metabolic Connections
Sarcosine (N-Methylglycine) connects to 10 other pathways.
B Vitamins
B2
Sarcosine dehydrogenase requires FAD (from B2)
Riboflavin - critical cofactor for MTHFR, glutathione recycling, and energy production.
B2
Sarcosine dehydrogenase requires FAD for demethylation to glycine
Riboflavin - critical cofactor for MTHFR, glutathione recycling, and energy production.
Folate
Sarcosine demethylation contributes methyl groups to THF
Vitamin B9 - essential for DNA synthesis, methylation, and cell division. Critical during pregnancy for neural tube development.
Amino Acids
Dimethylglycine (DMG)
Sarcosine is produced from DMG by demethylation
Product of betaine demethylation; can donate methyl groups to folate pool; intermediate in choline metabolism.
Dimethylglycine (DMG)
DMG is demethylated to sarcosine, donating a methyl group to THF
Product of betaine demethylation; can donate methyl groups to folate pool; intermediate in choline metabolism.
Glycine
Sarcosine is demethylated to glycine
Simplest amino acid with diverse roles - glutathione component, collagen synthesis, neurotransmission, and methylation.
Glycine
Sarcosine is N-methylglycine; produced from glycine by GNMT
Simplest amino acid with diverse roles - glutathione component, collagen synthesis, neurotransmission, and methylation.
Enzymes
GNMT (Glycine N-Methyltransferase)
GNMT can form sarcosine from glycine using SAMe
Enzyme that methylates glycine to sarcosine using SAMe; major regulator of SAMe levels; folate-inhibited.
GNMT (Glycine N-Methyltransferase)
Sarcosine is the product of GNMT
Enzyme that methylates glycine to sarcosine using SAMe; major regulator of SAMe levels; folate-inhibited.
