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
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
One characteristic that sets the N protein apart from most others is that it is phosphorylated and the degree of phosphorylation can dramatically affect its function.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022
Both phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3 are critical steps in interferon production.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2022
When the regulation of phosphorylation goes awry, diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes can emerge.
—BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2021
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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
One characteristic that sets the N protein apart from most others is that it is phosphorylated and the degree of phosphorylation can dramatically affect its function.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022
Both phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of IRF3 are critical steps in interferon production.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2022
When the regulation of phosphorylation goes awry, diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes can emerge.
—BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phosphorylation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1925, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing phosphorylation
Dictionary Entries Near phosphorylation
Cite this Entry
“Phosphorylation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phosphorylation. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.
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Medical 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)
More from Merriam-Webster on phosphorylation
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about phosphorylation
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