phosphorylation
noun
phos·phor·y·la·tion
ˌfäs-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən 
: the process of phosphorylating a chemical compound either by reaction with inorganic phosphate or by transfer of phosphate from another organic phosphate
especially
: the enzymatic conversion of carbohydrates into their phosphoric esters in metabolic processes
Examples of phosphorylation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nonetheless, the study’s findings suggest that tau phosphorylation isn’t inherently harmful.
—
New Atlas, 30 June 2025
As the cell’s clean-up crew attempts to remove the clumps, a leading theory suggests that the abnormal tau induces phosphorylation in additional proteins leading to a cascade of neurodegeneration.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Tau phosphorylation is a crucial process related to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
—Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Ld, Clec, Verywell Health, 17 Nov. 2023
The authors speculate that the changes at positions 203 and 204 increase phosphorylase affinity, leading to greater N protein phosphorylation, which is positively correlated to the efficiency of viral genome processing and nucleocapsid assembly.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022
One of these enzymes, phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1), was activated through phosphorylation—the addition of phosphate chemical groups—in cavefish but not in surface fish.
—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2023
The researchers then focused on a specific phosphorylation site and created a mutation that prevented it from being phosphorylated.
—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2023
The effectiveness of the compound was determined by how well C53 could trigger phosphorylation, or activation, of STING proteins within the cell samples.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022
In this experiment, Pryde et al. observed the phosphorylation of both STING and interferon regulatory factors across all the STING variants tested.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022
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New Atlas, 30 June 2025
As the cell’s clean-up crew attempts to remove the clumps, a leading theory suggests that the abnormal tau induces phosphorylation in additional proteins leading to a cascade of neurodegeneration.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Tau phosphorylation is a crucial process related to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
—Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Ld, Clec, Verywell Health, 17 Nov. 2023
The authors speculate that the changes at positions 203 and 204 increase phosphorylase affinity, leading to greater N protein phosphorylation, which is positively correlated to the efficiency of viral genome processing and nucleocapsid assembly.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022
One of these enzymes, phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1), was activated through phosphorylation—the addition of phosphate chemical groups—in cavefish but not in surface fish.
—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2023
The researchers then focused on a specific phosphorylation site and created a mutation that prevented it from being phosphorylated.
—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2023
The effectiveness of the compound was determined by how well C53 could trigger phosphorylation, or activation, of STING proteins within the cell samples.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022
In this experiment, Pryde et al. observed the phosphorylation of both STING and interferon regulatory factors across all the STING variants tested.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Phosphorylation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphorylation. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
phosphorylation
noun
phos·phor·y·la·tion
ˌfäs-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən
: the process of phosphorylating a chemical compound either by reaction with inorganic phosphate or by transfer of phosphate from another organic phosphate
especially
: the enzymatic conversion of carbohydrates into their phosphoric esters in metabolic processes (as the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate by ATP and hexokinase)
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