Glycine encephalopathy is an inherited metabolic disease characterized by abnormally high levels of an amino acid called glycine. Glycine is a chemical messenger that transmits signals in the brain. According to the symptoms the disease onset, Glycine encephalopathy may be divided in 4 forms. Classical neonatal form (most common): Symptoms start within a few days of life and may include poor feeding, lack of energy (lethargy), weak muscle tone (hypotonia), hiccups, breathing problems, seizures, hiccups, and coma. Transient form: Symptoms are similar to the classic form, but glycine levels decrease and the symptoms may improve within time. Glycine encephalopathy is caused by changes in the AMT, GLDC or GCSH genes which result in a deficiency of the enzyme that break-up the glycine. Diagnosis is based in the symptoms, the high glycine levels and the enzyme deficiency, as well as genetic testing. Inheritance is autosomal recessive.