Glycine
⤢ 3D
Glycine is the simplest amino acid and plays a dual role: it is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the spinal cord and brainstem, controlling reflexes and motor rhythm, and a required co-agonist at excitatory NMDA receptors in the brain. It thus contributes to motor control and reflex coordination as well as, via NMDA, cognition, and has been studied for effects on sleep quality.
Too little may be associated with
Muscle stiffness, startle disorders
Too much may be associated with
Sedation, reduced reflexes
Informational only — not medical advice.
Stimuli that influence it
Functions
Substances
Podcasts
Research (21)
- Glycine as a conditionally essential amino acid and its relationship to l-serine Holeček (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Glycine receptors: Structure, function, and therapeutic implications Mizzi et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- The involvement of GABA-rho receptors in regulating ethanol-induced elevation of dopamine, glycine and taurine within the nucleus accumbens of Wistar rats Cadeddu et al. (2025) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Intermittent fasting alerts neurotransmitters and oxidant/antioxidant status in the brain of rats Abdel-Rahman et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- M2 Microglia-Derived Exosomes Protect Against Glutamate-Induced HT22 Cell Injury via Exosomal miR-124-3p Zhang et al. (2024) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Glycine and aging: Evidence and mechanisms Johnson et al. (2023) PubMed ↗
- Membrane Stretch Gates NMDA Receptors Belin et al. (2022) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Taurine and Astrocytes: A Homeostatic and Neuroprotective Relationship Ramírez-Guerrero et al. (2022) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Glycine Transporters and Receptors as Targets for Analgesics Harvey et al. (2021) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Novel Glutamatergic Modulators for the Treatment of Mood Disorders: Current Status Zarate et al. (2021) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Functional Implications of Neurotransmitter Segregation Cifuentes et al. (2021) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Taurine activates glycine and GABA(A) receptor currents in anoxia-tolerant painted turtle pyramidal neurons Miles et al. (2018) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Insulin resistance and glycine metabolism in humans Adeva-Andany et al. (2018) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Chemical sensing of neurotransmitters Pradhan et al. (2014) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗
- Interaction between taurine and GABA(A)/glycine receptors in neurons of the rat anteroventral cochlear nucleus Song et al. (2012) Full text ↗ PubMed ↗