Question

youve already been introduced to the concept of phosphorylation. this is the observation that a great deal of the work that happens in a cell results from a phosphate group, usually from atp, being added to a molecule. here are structural formulas for 1) the phosphate ion that gets transferred during phosphorylation, and 2) the adenosine diphosphate (adp) molecule that is left
if a protein gets phosphorylated, what happens to it relative to the ability to do work? choose the single best answer.
it can donate a phosphate group back to atp, forming adp.
the additional negative charges repel full and partial negative charges in r - groups, raising the proteins overall potential energy.
the physical size of the protein increases a great deal due to the addition of the five atoms in a phosphate group.

Explanation:

When a protein is phosphorylated, the addition of a phosphate group (which has negative charges) can lead to changes in its structure and energy. The negative charges in the phosphate group can repel other negative charges (full or partial) in the protein's R - groups. This repulsion is a form of potential energy. Option 1 is incorrect because the usual direction is ATP donating a phosphate to form ADP, not the reverse in the context of protein phosphorylation. Option 3 is incorrect because the addition of a phosphate group (which has several atoms, not just five) does not significantly increase the physical size in a way that is relevant to the ability to do work compared to the energy - related changes.

Answer:

The additional negative charges repel full and partial negative charges in R - groups, raising the protein's overall potential energy.