Vital role of SHMT2 in diverse disease

One-carbon metabolism is essential for our human cells to carry out nucleotide synthesis, methylation, and reductive metabolism through one-carbon units, and these pathways ensure the high proliferation rate of cancer cells. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) is a key enzyme in one-carbon metabolism. This enzyme can convert serine into a one-carbon unit bound to tetrahydrofolate and glycine, ultimately supporting the synthesis of thymidine and purines and promoting the growth of cancer cells. Due to SHMT2's crucial role in the one-carbon cycle, it is ubiquitous in human cells and even in all organisms and highly conserved. Here, we summarize the impact of SHMT2 on the progression of various cancers to highlight its potential use in the development of cancer treatments.