Meanings
nounautophosphatase (plural autophosphatases)
plural autophosphatases · alternative auto-phosphatase
- noun adjunctbiochemistryA phosphatase that dephosphorylates itself
an autophosphatase reaction
1 more example
In addition, KaiC, which can act both as an autokinase and an autophosphatase, undergoes robust daily phosphorylation cycles that depend on its physical interactions with KaiA and KaiB.
2006, U. Schibler, “Circadian time keeping”, in Kalsbeek et al., editors, Hypothalamic Integration of Energy Metabolism, →ISBN, page 273
Origin
- Proto-Hellenic*autós
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂ew
- Ancient Greekαὖ (aû)
- Ancient Greekτόν (tón)
- Ancient Greekαὐτός (autós)
- Ancient Greekαὐτο- (auto-)
- Englishauto-
- Englishphosphatase
- Englishautophosphatase
From auto- + phosphatase.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
autophosphatase. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autophosphatase
MLA
“autophosphatase.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autophosphatase. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “autophosphatase,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/autophosphatase.
Source: autophosphatase on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.