Serine and threonine are amino acids which have similar side-chain compositions that contain a hydroxyl group and thus can be phosphorylated by enzymes called serine/threonine protein kinases. The addition of the phosphate group can be reversed by enzymes called serine/threonine phosphatases. The addition and removal of phosphate groups regulates many cellular pathways involved in cell proliferation, programmed cell death (apoptosis), embryonic development, and cell differentiation.
