Sarcosine

**Semantic type:** Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein

**Definition:** An amino acid that is an intermediate and byproduct in glycine synthesis and degradation with potential anti-depressant and anti-schizophrenic activities. Sarcosine is a product of dietary consumption of choline and creatine and is rapidly converted into glycine. Oral administration of sarcosine with certain antipsychotics may cause increased glycine concentration in the brain, which may lead to increased NMDA receptor activation and a reduction in symptoms.

**Synonyms:** - (Methylamino)Acetic Acid - (Methylamino)Ethanoic Acid - Acetic Acid, (Methylamino)- - Glycine, N-Methyl- - Methylglycine - N-Methylaminoacetic Acid - N-Methylglycine - SARCOSINE - Sarcosinic Acid