Palmitoylation

Overview
S-Palmitoylation is the covalent attachment of fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, to cysteine residues of membrane proteins.

The precise function of palmitoylation depends on the particular protein being considered. Palmitoylation enhances the hydro-phobicity of proteins and contributes to their membrane association. Palmitoylation also appears to play a significant role in subcellular trafficking of proteins between membrane compartments, as well as in modulating protein-protein interactions.

An example of a protein that undergoes palmitoylation is hemagglutinin, a membrane glycoprotein used by influenza to attach to host cell receptors.