verb
- to introduce a phosphate group into (a molecule or compound), especially a protein or enzyme
Usage: technical; biochemistry
Examples
- Kinase enzymes phosphorylate proteins by transferring phosphate groups from ATP.
- The cell phosphorylates glucose as the first step of glycolysis.
- When the hormone binds to the receptor, it triggers a cascade that phosphorylates multiple target proteins.
- Scientists phosphorylated the enzyme to study how the modification affects its activity.
- The phosphorylated form of the protein is more active than the unmodified version.