Special Section: Membrane Proteins

The function of palmitoylation will depend on the protein that is being considered. Palmitoylation increases the hydrophobicity of proteins and contributes to their membrane association. Progress has been made in our understanding of protein S-palmitoylation as one of a repertoire of dynamic post-translational protein modifications that can control protein trafficking, localization, partitioning into domains, protein–protein interactions and functions. Some light has also been shed on the enzymology of palmitoylation. However, much needs to be learnt about the sequence motifs specific for enzymatic and non-enzymatic palmitoylation and on the battery of proteins that are likely to mediate enzymatic palmitoylation–depalmitoylation cycles. With the development of knowledge, inhibitors of palmitoylation may find use as drugs in the foreseeable future. The purpose of this review will be to overview some of the recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms and function of protein S-palmitoylation.