What is phosphorylation?

Phosphorylation is a chemical process in which a phosphate group is added to the compound (PO 4 3-). It normally applies to organic chemistry and is essential for all living organisms. The process is involved in the synthesis of proteins and the production of adenosine triposphate (ATP) - molecule, which stores and supplies energy. It also plays a key role in various chemical signaling and regulatory mechanisms in the cell by adjusting the structure of different proteins and changing their activities. This energy often comes from molecules, etc. ATP contains three phosphate groups, one of which is easily removed. The removal of this group releases considerable energy that can be used to allow the phosphorylation reaction in which the phosphate group is added to another molecule - for example, glucose. Thus, phospratskroups E can be easily transferred from ATP to other molecules.

However, these reactions require that ATP and molecule recipeToru joined to transmit. This is achieved by enzymes known as kinases. These are large, complex proteins that can contain several hundred amino acids. The shape of the enzyme is decisive: the structure of the kinase enzyme is that both the Molecule ATP and the receptor molecule can be adapted in close proximity to the reaction to continue. An example is glycerol kinase, which facilitates the transmission of phosphate group from ATP to glycerol; This is part of the process that produces phospholipids used in cell membranes.

ATP is produced in itself by a well -known phosphory process called oxidative phosphorylation, in which a group of phosphates is added to adenosine diffosphate (ADP). Energy for this process eventually comes from the food we eat, but more specifically from glucose oxidation. It is a very complex process with many steps, but simply energy from glucose is used to create two compounds known as Nadh and Fadh2 that provide energy for the boneto the reaction. The compounds are reduced reagents that are easily distributed to electrons so that they can be oxidized. Phosphate groups are added to ATP molecules by energy released by Oxidation of NADH and FADH2; This reaction will be facilitated by the ATP synthetase.

Many different kinases are found in plants and animals. Due to their importance in so many cellular processes, the phosphorylation test has become a common laboratory procedure. This includes testing of cellular material samples to check that the protein has been phosphorylation, and in some cases it measures its range. A number of different methods are used to control phosphorylation, including the marking of the farts with radioisotopes, the use of antibodies specific to phosphorylated protein and weight spectrometry.

Since 2011, an area of ​​special interest is the extra kinase regulated by the signal (ERKS) --enzyms that participate in signaling activities in the cell. Phosphorylation of ERK plays a role in regulating various cellular functions, including mitosis and other PRCell associated with cell division. This process is relevant to some areas of cancer research because it can be activated by carcinogenic substances and virus infections, leading to uncontrolled cell division and other cancer -related effects. Research on possible treatment of cancer, which includes inhibition of this process. The phosphorylation test can be used to test various substances for their efficiency in this role.