phosphorylation - specific site (Nov/13/2006 )

hi

waht make a serine a phoshorilation site, why some get alway phosphorilated and other not.
any specific reason? does in require a specific target sequence thst the kinase will recognise?

thanks
jm

Serine, as theronine and tyrosine, are the only aminoacids with an -OH group in their lateral chain, and this can be substituted by a phosphate group by a kinase. About the target sequence it can vary with the enzyme, but at least I know about serines that are flanked by proline residues, i.e. in domains such as XPPSPX, as phosphorylation targets. I hope it helps.

Regards.