Serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity and serine incorporation in leukocytes.

Studies of serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity in extracts of leukocytes from normal and leukemic subjects showed that the enzyme is present in lymphocytes and granulocytes but that activity is higher in lymphocytes. It is also higher than normal in lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and to a lesser extent in the leukocytes of patients with acute myelocytic leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. A striking increase in activity occurs in lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin to divide in culture. Enzyme activity rises severalfold before cell number increases. Stimulated lymphocytes take up [3-14C]serine from the medium and incorporate its radioactivity into DNA, RNA, and other cell fractions. The rate of incorporation increases sharply before the rise in cell number. Thus, serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity and serine incorporation in vivo show a temporal correlation in stimulated lymphocytes. Inhibitors of DNA synthesis (e.g., fluorodeoxyuridine or high concentrations of adenosine or thymidine) block incorporation of serine radioactivity into DNA and other cell fractions. The results suggest that serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity and cellular uptake of serine have a significant role in proliferating cells.