Recent advances in protein prenyltransferases: substrate identification, regulation, and disease interventions

EA Zverina, CL Lamphear, EN Wright… - Current opinion in …, 2012 - Elsevier
EA Zverina, CL Lamphear, EN Wright, CA Fierke
Current opinion in chemical biology, 2012Elsevier
Protein post-translational modifications increase the functional diversity of the proteome by
covalently adding chemical moieties onto proteins thereby changing their activation state,
cellular localization, interacting partners, and life cycle. Lipidation is one such modification
that enables membrane association of naturally cytosolic proteins. Protein
prenyltransferases irreversibly install isoprenoid units of varying length via a thioether
linkage onto proteins that exert their cellular activity at membranes. Substrates of …
Protein post-translational modifications increase the functional diversity of the proteome by covalently adding chemical moieties onto proteins thereby changing their activation state, cellular localization, interacting partners, and life cycle. Lipidation is one such modification that enables membrane association of naturally cytosolic proteins. Protein prenyltransferases irreversibly install isoprenoid units of varying length via a thioether linkage onto proteins that exert their cellular activity at membranes. Substrates of prenyltransferases are involved in countless signaling pathways and processes within the cell. Identification of new prenylation substrates, prenylation pathway regulators, and dynamic trafficking of prenylated proteins are all avenues of intense, ongoing research that are challenging, exciting, and have the potential to significantly advance the field in the near future.
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