What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
phosphorylated
Example
The phosphorylated protein was detected in the cell lysate. [phosphorylated: adjective]
Example
The enzyme catalyzes the phosphorylated of glucose. [phosphorylated: past participle]
phosphorylate
Example
The kinase can phosphorylate the substrate at multiple sites. [phosphorylate: verb]
Example
Phosphorylation is a common mechanism used to regulate protein activity. [phosphorylation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Phosphorylate is more commonly used than phosphorylated in scientific literature and research papers. Phosphorylate is a versatile term that can be used in various contexts, while phosphorylated is more specific and limited to describing the state of a molecule after phosphorylation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between phosphorylated and phosphorylate?
Both phosphorylated and phosphorylate are technical terms used in scientific contexts, making them more formal than everyday language. However, phosphorylate is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while phosphorylated is less common and typically used in formal scientific writing.