Phosphorylation is found most commonly on specific serine and threonine amino acid residues in proteins, but it also occurs on tyrosine and other amino acid residues (histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid) as well.

Where is phosphorylation found?

Substrate-level phosphorylation occurs in the cytoplasm of cells (glycolysis) and in the mitochondria (Krebs cycle). It can occur under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions and provides a quicker, but less efficient source of ATP compared to oxidative phosphorylation.

What sites can be phosphorylated?

Protein phosphorylation is one of the most important mechanisms in the regulation of cellular function. Proteins can be phosphorylated on serine, threonine or tyrosine residues. Most phosphorylation occurs on serine and threonine (see Ch. 25), with less than 1% on tyrosine.