Sarcosine

Sarcosine (N-methylglycine) is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative that plays an important role as an intermediate in glycine and choline metabolism. It functions as a modulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activity a selective inhibitor of glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1), thereby enhancing synaptic glycine levels and NMDA receptor function. Sarcosine is widely used in neuroscience research, particularly for its potential therapeutic applications in schizophrenia, depression and cognitive disorders. Sarcosine serves also as a diagnostic biomarker, notably in prostate cancer screening, where elevated levels in biological fluids are linked to disease progression. Additionally, it is used in biochemical assays, metabolic studies, and as a building block in peptide synthesis.