What is the Origin of Phosphorylation?

The term is a compound derived from "phospho-," referring to the phosphate chemical group, and "-ylation," which denotes the process of adding that group. The concept is central to the field of signal transduction, which explains how external signals, including hormones, are rapidly and precisely communicated from the cell surface to the nucleus. This modification is recognized as one of the most pervasive and critical regulatory mechanisms in the entire human proteome.

What is the Mechanism of Phosphorylation?

Following the binding of a hormone to its specific receptor, an intracellular signaling cascade often leads to the activation of a kinase enzyme. This activated kinase then covalently attaches a negatively charged phosphate group to specific serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues on a target protein. This addition induces a conformational change in the target protein, which can either activate its enzymatic function to propagate the signal or inactivate it to terminate the pathway, providing a rapid and highly regulated cellular response.

Phosphorylation ∞ Area

Phosphorylation

Meaning

Phosphorylation is a ubiquitous and essential post-translational modification in biochemistry, defined as the enzymatic addition of a phosphate group, typically sourced from an ATP molecule, onto a protein or other biomolecule. This reaction is catalyzed by a class of enzymes called kinases and is generally reversible by phosphatases. It functions as a molecular on/off switch, fundamentally altering the target protein’s three-dimensional structure, activity, or ability to interact with other cellular components, thereby regulating virtually all aspects of cellular life.

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