Scripps Research, the Lowy Medical Research Institute, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and others have uncovered that a partial genetic deletion in PHGDH—a key metabolic enzyme—can reduce levels of circulating serine, which, in turn, leads to disruptions in communication between visual and neural functions. The research team’s preclinical findings, which were published in Cell Metabolism on August 26, 2024, also showed that dietary supplements of serine could reverse retinal and nerve conditions related to a low supply of these amino acids. The researchers concluded that circulating serine levels influence retinal function, and dietary supplementation may be beneficial for patients with macular telangiectasia.