What happens during the process of autophosphorylation?

Autophosphorylation is a biochemical process during which a phosphate is added to a protein kinase by its own mechanism. In eukaryotic cells, autophosphorylation occurs by the addition of a phosphate group to serine, tyrosine, or threonine residues in protein kinases. Autophosphorylation requires the binding of ATP molecules to the kinase’s active site. ATP serves as the phosphate donor group for transfer to the kinase. Autophosphorylation plays a role in the activation of protein kinases. It does this by inducing conformational changes in kinase structure, leading to activation of its catalytic function. Autophosphorylation may also serve as a mechanism for regulating kinase activity. Kinase activity may be enhanced by promoting substrate binding or enabling interactions with signaling molecules. However, sometimes kinase activity can also be inhibited and thus suppressed.