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What is the difference between kinase and phosphatase?


Both kinases and phosphatase are enzymes that are essential to many reactions in our body. MCAT loves enzymes and asks plenty of questions about them!

Kinase is an enzyme whose function is to add a phosphate group from ATP to other organic molecules in a process called phosphorylation. Phosphatase, on the other hand, does the opposite of kinase. It cleaves phosphate groups using water.

Where do we see these enzymes in action?

Phosphatases are used in gluconeogenisis (pathway wherein glucose is created from noncarbohydrate precursors) among many other pathways

Kinases are used in glycolysis, breaking down of glucose to make energy among other pathways.

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