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Glite Dictionary
phospho-

phospho-

1 7.3
A word part meaning containing phosphorus or having phosphate groups
  • other
  • Specialized
: fosfo-
  • Research suggests that phospholipids are essential components of cell membranes.

Examples

  • OK, it's phosphohydroxypyruvate, so pyruvate with a phospho on it, hydroxypyruvate.

  • In biochemistry, the enzyme known as phosphofructokinase plays a critical role in glycolysis.

  • The scientist synthesized a new compound called phosphomethylphosphonic acid for the experiment.

Surface Forms

phospho- main

Etymology

Phospho- comes from Greek parts phos meaning 'light' and phoros meaning 'bearing', so phosphorus means 'light-bearer' and is related to photo- ('light'). Scientists use phospho- to say something 'contains phosphorus' or a phosphate group, so a phosphoprotein is a protein 'with phosphorus' attached.