Phosphate group: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Cleaned up the text. |
||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The phosphate group is a molecule containing one [[Atom|atom]] of [[Phosphorus|phosphorus]] [[Covalent bond|covalently bound]] to four [[Oxygen|oxygen]] residues, | The phosphate group is a molecule containing one [[Atom|atom]] of [[Phosphorus|phosphorus]] [[Covalent bond|covalently bound]] to four [[Oxygen|oxygen]] residues, two of which may be expressed as a [[Hydroxyl group|hydroxyl group]]. They are relatively reactive [[Molecules|molecules]] that readily form [[Phophoester bond|phophoester bonds]] by the interaction with hydroxyl groups<ref>Microbiology of the Cell,5th edition Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter page 106-107</ref>. | ||
This molecule is of great importance to all [[Cell|cells]], due to their vast array of uses in cells, including | This molecule is of great importance to all [[Cell|cells]], due to their vast array of uses in cells, including as a readily available energy source, to protein activity and [[Gene|gene]] expression. | ||
== Phosphates as an Energy store == | === Phosphates as an Energy store === | ||
Phosphates act as the main feature of the energy sources [[ATP|ATP]] and [[GTP|GTP]]. Due to the negative electrostatic charges on each phosphate group, it is difficult to cause them to bind three together in the arrangement seen in ATP and GTP. As a result large amounts of energy are needed to form a bond between them. it is this high energy bond that acts as the storage system. Cleavage of this bond allows the release of this energy, to drive cellular activities, such as conformational changes in [[Proteins|proteins]] or activation of an [[ATPase|ATPase]]. | Phosphates act as the main feature of the energy sources [[ATP|ATP]] and [[GTP|GTP]]. Due to the negative electrostatic charges on each phosphate group, it is difficult to cause them to bind three together in the arrangement seen in ATP and GTP. As a result, large amounts of energy are needed to form a bond between them. it is this high energy bond that acts as the storage system. Cleavage of this bond allows the release of this energy, to drive cellular activities, such as conformational changes in [[Proteins|proteins]] or activation of an [[ATPase|ATPase]]. | ||
== Phosphates in Protein Activity == | === Phosphates in Protein Activity === | ||
Here phosphates act as the on/off switch for a protein. This process is | Here phosphates act as the on/off switch for a protein. This process is [[Phosphorylation|phosphorylation]] and enables them to switch to an active state and perform their designated function. It is one of most commonly observed methods for cells alter [[Protein|protein]] activity on a short-term basis, and is a method for rapid change in protein activity compared to synthesis of new proteins<ref>Microbiology of the Cell, 5th Edition Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter pages 174-177 see also Figure 3-64, protein phosphorylation</ref>. | ||
Phosphate addition can act as either an on or off switch mechanism, it is dependant on the protein as to which activates. The process is controlled by two types of [[ | Phosphate addition can act as either an on or off switch mechanism, it is dependant on the protein as to which activates. The process is controlled by two types of [[Enzymes|enzymes]]; the [[Kinase|kinases]] (which adds a phosphate) and the [[Phosphatases|phosphatases]] (which oppose this action and remove a phosphate). | ||
== References == | === References === | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Latest revision as of 17:34, 19 November 2017
The phosphate group is a molecule containing one atom of phosphorus covalently bound to four oxygen residues, two of which may be expressed as a hydroxyl group. They are relatively reactive molecules that readily form phophoester bonds by the interaction with hydroxyl groups[1].
This molecule is of great importance to all cells, due to their vast array of uses in cells, including as a readily available energy source, to protein activity and gene expression.
Phosphates as an Energy store
Phosphates act as the main feature of the energy sources ATP and GTP. Due to the negative electrostatic charges on each phosphate group, it is difficult to cause them to bind three together in the arrangement seen in ATP and GTP. As a result, large amounts of energy are needed to form a bond between them. it is this high energy bond that acts as the storage system. Cleavage of this bond allows the release of this energy, to drive cellular activities, such as conformational changes in proteins or activation of an ATPase.
Phosphates in Protein Activity
Here phosphates act as the on/off switch for a protein. This process is phosphorylation and enables them to switch to an active state and perform their designated function. It is one of most commonly observed methods for cells alter protein activity on a short-term basis, and is a method for rapid change in protein activity compared to synthesis of new proteins[2].
Phosphate addition can act as either an on or off switch mechanism, it is dependant on the protein as to which activates. The process is controlled by two types of enzymes; the kinases (which adds a phosphate) and the phosphatases (which oppose this action and remove a phosphate).