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  • Review Article
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Unconventional post-translational modifications in immunological signaling

Nature Immunology volume 15, pages 512–520 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

The activity of a cell is governed by the signals it receives from the extracellular milieu, which are 'translated' into the appropriate biological output, such as activation, survival, proliferation, migration or differentiation. Signaling pathways are responsible for converting environmental cues into discrete intracellular events. The alteration of existing proteins by post-translational modification (PTM) is a key feature of signal-transduction pathways that allows the modulation of protein function. Research into PTMs has long been dominated by the investigation of protein phosphorylation; other PTMs, such as methylation of lysine and arginine residues, acetylation, and nitrosylation of thiol groups and tyrosine residues, have received comparatively little attention. This Review aims to present an overview of these PTMs, with an emphasis on their role in cells of the immune system.

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Figure 1: PTMs described in this Review.
Figure 2: Protein methyltransferases regulate innate and adaptive immune responses.
Figure 3: PAD-activation pathways in the immune system.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J.M. Keith for assistance in preparing the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Physiology and Department of Immunology & Microbial Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA

    Kerri A Mowen

  2. Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,

    Michael David

  3. Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

    Michael David

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  1. Kerri A Mowen
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  2. Michael David
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Correspondence to Michael David.

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Mowen, K., David, M. Unconventional post-translational modifications in immunological signaling. Nat Immunol 15, 512–520 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.2873

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