

The term amino acid is short for α-amino carboxylic acid. Phosphorylation serves a critical role in the regulation of protein function and cell signaling.Īmino acids See all videos for this articleĪmino acid, any of a group of organic molecules that consist of a basic amino group (―NH 2), an acidic carboxyl group (―COOH), and an organic R group (or side chain) that is unique to each amino acid. The most important posttranslational modification of amino acids in eukaryotic organisms (including humans) is phosphorylation, in which a phosphate molecule is added to the hydroxyl portion of the R groups of serine, threonine, and tyrosine.Among the latter is γ-carboxyglutamic acid, a calcium-binding amino acid residue found in the blood-clotting protein prothrombin.


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