Serine is the second amino acid that is also an alcohol because of its methyl side chain, which contains a hydroxy group. Serine is needed for the proper metabolism of fats and fatty acids and plays an important role in the body’s synthetic pathways for pyrimidines, purines (making it important for DNA and RNA function), creatine, and porphyrins. It is highly concentrated in all cell membranes, is a component of the protective myelin sheaths surrounding nerve fibers, and aids in the production of immunoglobulins and antibodies for the maintenance of a healthy immune system.
| Micromole per liter | µmol/L = mcmol/L = umol/L = µM/L = mcM/L = uM/L = micromol/L |
| Milligram per liter | mg/L = millig/L = milligram/L = mg/liter |
| Milligram per deciliter | mg/dL = millig/dL = milligram/dL |
| Milligram per 100 milliliters | mg/100mL = millig/100mL = milligram/100mL |
| Milligram percent | mg% = millig% = milligram% |
| Microgram per milliliter | µg/mL = mcg/mL = ug/mL = microg/mL = microgram/mL |