phosphorolysis
/ˌfɑsfəˈrɑləsɪs/
noun
- A chemical reaction in which a molecule is broken down by adding a phosphate group, similar to hydrolysis but using phosphate instead of water.
- Phosphorolysis is important for energy production in cells because it helps recycle phosphate groups.
- The enzyme glycogen phosphorylase catalyzes the phosphorolysis of glycogen to release glucose-1-phosphate.
- In biochemistry class, we learned about phosphorolysis as a key step in glycogen breakdown.