Glycine Hydroxymethyltransferase

In enzymology, a glycine hydroxymethyltransferase (EC 2.1.2.1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate + glycine + H₂O tetrahydrofolate + L-serine

The 3 substrates of this enzyme are 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, glycine, and H₂O, whereas its two products are tetrahydrofolate and L-serine.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases that transfer one-carbon groups, specifically the hydroxymethyl-, formyl- and related transferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate:glycine hydroxymethyltransferase. Other names in common use include serine aldolase, threonine aldolase, serine hydroxymethylase, serine hydroxymethyltransferase, allothreonine aldolase, L-serine hydroxymethyltransferase, L-threonine aldolase, serine hydroxymethyltransferase, and serine transhydroxymethylase. This enzyme participates in 5 metabolic pathways: glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, lysine degradation, cyanoamino acid metabolism, one carbon pool by folate, and methane metabolism. It employs one cofactor, pyridoxal phosphate.