Phosphorylation

Phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate group to a molecule.

Phosphorylation mechanism

Phosphorylation is a chemical modification consisting in adding a phosphate group (PO₄³-) to a molecule taken from a molecule of ATP (which then becomes ADP).

In biology phosphorylation is catalysed by kinase enzymes, while the reverse reaction, dephosphorylation (the removal of the phosphate group) is catalysed by other enzymes, phosphatases.

The function of phosphorylation

Phosphorylation is a common biological modification performed on proteins or small molecules.

The protein phosphorylation is a post-translational modification, carried out on certain amino acids (usually serine, threonine and tyrosine) regulating their biological action.