Why is phosphorylation favorable?

In biology, phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are essential for numerous cellular processes. Phosphorylation is the most common mechanism for controlling protein function and sending signals throughout the cell. It permits coupling and addition of a phosphoryl group.

Protein phosphorylation is thought to be the most prevalent post translational modification in eukaryotes; it frequently occurs at the beginning of sugar catabolism. Phosphorylation is particularly significant for protein function because it activates or deactivates nearly half of the enzymes, thereby regulating their function.

Positive effects of phosphorylation include the ability to control protein activity through conformational changes that activate or deactivate enzymes and signaling pathways, processes that are essential for many cellular processes such as growth, metabolism, and signaling.