| Function |
Palmitoylation involves the addition of a 16-carbon fatty acid, palmitic acid, to the cysteine residue of proteins by thioester bond. Protein acyl Transferases (PATs) are enzymes responsible for catalyzing the addition of palmitate to the substrate. The process of N-palmitoylation occurs through a thioester intermediate using the thiol group of the cysteine amino acid, followed by a spontaneous rearrangement forming amide linkage. Palmitoylation is known to facilitate various biological activities like interaction of membrane proteins, mediation of protein trafficking and regulation of protein stability and enzyme activity. |