C-labeled L-serine and analysis of cellularly derived metabolites by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed that the carbon skeleton of L-serine is mainly converted to pyruvate-derived metabolites such as L-alanine. The sdaA gene was identified in the genome of C. glutamicum, and overexpression of sdaA resulted in (i) functional L-serine dehydratase (L-SerDH) activity, and therefore conversion of L-serine to pyruvate, and (ii) growth of the recombinant strain on L-serine as the single substrate. In contrast, deletion of sdaA decreased the L-serine cometabolism rate with glucose by 47% but still resulted in degradation of L-serine to pyruvate. Cystathionine -lyase was additionally found to convert L-serine to pyruvate, and the respective metC gene was induced 2.4-fold under high internal L-serine concentrations. Upon sdaA overexpression, the growth rate on glucose is reduced 36% from that of the wild type, illustrating that even with glucose as a single substrate, intracellular L-serine conversion to pyruvate might occur, although probably the weak affinity of L-SerDH (apparent K m , 11 mM) prevents substantial L-serine degradation.Cometabolism is often observed for xenobiotic compounds which do not enable growth as a single carbon-and energy source (21). This is due, for example, to long degradation pathways and unnatural structures. On the other hand, microorganisms with a restricted metabolism, such as Lactococcus lactis, are dependent on cometabolism of essential natural compounds, e.g., amino acids (35). The amino acid L-serine is characterized by the fact that several organisms have the ability to introduce it into the central metabolism via pyruvate (35,2,16). Another distinguishing feature is its high cellular demand, exceeding the simple provision of L-serine for protein synthesis, since L-serine is additionally required for glycine, cysteine, tryptophan, and phospholipid synthesis as well as for 1-carbonunit generation (52). Glycine, in turn, is a precursor for purines and heme. In Corynebacterium glutamicum about 7.5% of the total carbon flux toward L-serine is utilized for these purposes (28). Prior estimates for Escherichia coli determined that as much as 15% of the carbon assimilated from glucose involves L-serine (42). Due to the high demand and its key position in the precursor supply, L-serine has to be regarded as an intermediate of the central metabolism (52).In spite of the presence of L-serine dehydratase (L-SerDH) (47) and the key position of L-serine, growth of E. coli on L-serine as a carbon source is very poor, allowing doubling times of about 60 h only (63). When the organism is additionally exposed to low concentrations of glycine, isoleucine, and threonine, growth is enhanced (36). Interestingly, during growth on tryptone broth, where a number of amino acids are present, L-serine is utilized immediately and earlier than any other amino acid (43). Taken together, L-serine is clearly a poor growth substrate for E. coli and is preferably cometabolized. Klebsiella aerogenes and ...