Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Neuroscience

Greasy proteins of the neuron

Nature volume 456, pages 887–888 (2008)Cite this article

An analysis of neuronal proteins reveals that many are regulated through covalent attachment of the lipid palmitate. This reversible modification seems to affect the form and function of synaptic junctions.

Phosphates, lipids, sugars and even small polypeptides covalently attach to proteins, changing a protein's activity, localization or stability. Such modifications can be either reversible or permanent. Reversible modifications allow regulation of protein function, which is essential for cellular responses. Phosphorylation has long been the kingpin of regulatory modifications, and the total pool of cellular proteins (the proteome) that undergo phosphorylation is vast. On page 904 of this issue, Kang et al.1 reveal another regulated proteome — neuronal proteins modified by the 16-carbon fatty acid palmitate.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Kang, R. et al. Nature 456, 904–909 (2008).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Roth, A. F. et al. Cell 125, 1003–1013 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Drisdel, R. C. & Green, W. N. Biotechniques 36, 276–285 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ethell, I. M. & Pasquale, E. B. Prog. Neurobiol. 75, 161–205 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Marks, P. W. & Kwiatkowski, D. J. Genomics 38, 13–18 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hering, H., Lin, C. C. & Sheng, M. J. Neurosci. 23, 3262–3271 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Smotrys, J. E. & Linder, M. E. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 73, 559–587 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Halpain, S., Hipolito, A. & Saffer, L. J. Neurosci. 18, 9835–9844 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tsutsumi, R., Fukata, Y. & Fukata, M. Pflügers Arch. 456, 1199–1206 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maurine E. Linder is in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. mlinder@wustl.edu,

    Maurine E. Linder

Authors
  1. Maurine E. Linder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Linder, M. Greasy proteins of the neuron. Nature 456, 887–888 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/456887a

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/456887a

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing