Phosphorylation mechanisms in intensive care medicine

Introduction The phosphorylation states of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and nucleotides control the mechanisms behind nearly all cellular functions. Therefore, not surprisingly, recent findings have shown that alterations in these phosphorylation pathways play a central role in the development and progression of many disease states. This review provides a brief summary of the function and activity of various phosphorylation mechanisms, outlines some of the major phosphorylation signaling cascades, and describes the role of these phosphorylation mechanisms in intensive care medicine.