Protein Palmitoylation

Palmitoylation is the covalent modification of proteins with 16 carbon acyl chains related to palmitic acid. Protein palmitoylation was first described in the 1970s and is now recognized as a major form of posttranslational modification in all eukaryotes, with a few examples in prokaryotes as well. In many cases, palmitoylation is a reversible modification, suggesting that the cell uses it to regulate protein function. This article focuses on the enzymology and functional significance of protein palmitoylation.