Palmitate mediated localization is a biological process that trafficks a
palmitoylated protein to ordered lipid domains.
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Biological function
One function is thought to cluster proteins to increase the efficiency of protein-protein interactions and facilitate biological processes. In the opposite scenario palmitate mediated localization sequesters proteins away from a non-localized molecule. In theory, disruption of palmitate mediated localization then allows a transient interaction of two molecules through lipid mixing. In the case of an enzyme, palmitate can sequester an enzyme away from its substrate. Disruption of palmitate mediated localization then activates the enzyme by
substrate presentation
In molecular biology, substrate presentation is a biological process that activates a protein. The protein is sequestered away from its substrate and then activated by release and exposure to its substrate. A ''substrate'' is typically the subst ...
.
Mechanism of sequestration
Palmitate mediated localization is integral to
spatial biology; in particular, lipid partitioning and the formation of
lipid rafts
The plasma membranes of cells contain combinations of glycosphingolipids, cholesterol and protein receptors organized in glycolipoprotein lipid microdomains termed lipid rafts. Their existence in cellular membranes remains controversial. Indee ...
. Sequestration of palmitoylated proteins is regulated by cholesterol. Depletion of cholesterol with methyl-beta cyclodextrin disrupts palmitate mediated localization.
References
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Biological processes