PROTEIN-PHOSPHORYLATION - TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF PHOSPHOAMINO ACIDS

Protein phosphorylation plays a central role in many biological and bi omedical phenomena. In this review, while a brief overview of the occu rrence and function of protein phosphorylation is given, the primary f ocus is on studies related to the detection and analysis of phosphoryl ation both in vivo and in vitro. We focus on phosphorylation of serine , threonine and tyrosine, the most commonly phosphorylated amino acids in eukaryotes. Technologies such as radiolabelling, antibody recognit ion, chromatographic methods (HPLC, TLC), electrophoresis, Edman seque ncing and mass spectrometry are reviewed. We consider the speed, simpl icity and sensitivity of tools for detection and identification of pro tein phosphorylation, as well as quantitation and site characterisatio n. The limitations of currently available methods are summarised. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.