(a) Model of serine metabolism via the 3-phospho-glycerate pathway. (b) Serial dilutions of knockouts of serine biosynthesis genes in the presence (control) or absence of serine (- serine) on synthetic medium (SDC). The strains used are from top to bottom: wild-type (WT), ser1Δ, ser2Δ, ser3Δ and ser33Δ. (c) Model of sphingolipid (SP) metabolism in yeast. Myriocin (red) is an inhibitor of the SPT (Lcb1, Lcb2, Tsc3). (d) Exogenous serine is essential for survival under SP depleted conditions. Serial dilutions of WT, ser1Δ, ser2Δ, ser3Δ and ser33Δ cells on SDC medium. Control plates (upper left), plates without serine (upper right panel), plates containing 1.5 μM myriocin (lower right) and plates containing 1.5 μM myriocin with no serine available (lower right) are displayed.