Inhibition by aminoacetonitrile and propargylamine of glycine cleavage system from rat brain and liver mitochondria.

Glycine degradation in the CNS is catalyzed by the glycine cleavage system (GCS). We have tested several compounds with a structural analogy to glycine for their inhibition of the GCS. Compounds having an inhibitory activity, such as aminoacetonitrile and propargylamine, are characterized by having a primary amine group and a pi-electron system present in the group substituting for the carboxylic function. The inhibition by these compounds of glycine degradation may be of pharmacological interest given the neurotransmitter role of glycine.