2H imaging of [2,3,3-2H2]serine metabolism

Motivation: Formate overflow linked to mitochondrial oxidative serine catabolism has been observed in various forms of cancer, and there is evidence that elevated formate concentrations promote cell infiltration. Goal(s): Our goal was to monitor serine catabolism using deuterium metabolic imaging. Approach: Cell experiments were conducted using a 14.1 T high-resolution NMR spectrometer and 2H experiments on tumors in vivo using a 7.0 T horizontal bore magnet. Results: [2,3,3-2H2]serine catabolism can be monitored directly from measurements of 2H-formate production and indirectly from 2H-labeling of water. Impact: Monitoring [2,3,3-2H2]serine metabolism holds huge potential when assessing novel cancer treatments that target the one-carbon pathway to inhibit tumor cell proliferation.