sarcosine

Sarcosine is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative (N-methylglycine) and a small molecule that acts as an intermediate in glycine metabolism. It is found endogenously in muscle and other tissues and can also be synthesized industrially. Sarcosine has been investigated primarily as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia, where it appears to reduce negative symptoms by modulating glutamatergic neurotransmission. Mechanistically, sarcosine functions both as a GlyT1 (type 1 glycine transporter) inhibitor—raising synaptic glycine levels—and as an agonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), thereby enhancing NMDA receptor activity. This dual action may underlie its potential benefits in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. Sarcosine has also been studied for its role in cognition enhancement and is being researched as a biomarker for prostate cancer progression[2][5][6][8].

Other names

N-methylglycinemethylglycine