Protein N-myristoylation: critical role in apoptosis and salt tolerance.
N-myristoylation is a covalent protein modification that can promote the association of proteins with membranes. De Jonge, Hogema, and Tilly discuss how N-myristoylation may be involved in triggering Fas ligand-induced apoptosis in mammals, and in adapting to conditions of high salt in plants. The pro-apoptotic protein BID is unique in that its proteolytic cleavage product, tBID, is posttranslationally myristoylated. In contrast, the plant accessory protein SOS3 undergoes "classical" cotranslational N-myristoylation. N-myristoylation is essential for the proper functioning of these proteins in regulating the signaling pathways (apoptosis and adaptation to salt stress, respectively) in which they are involved.
de Jonge
H R
HR
Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute COEUR, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. dejonge@bc1.fgg.eur.nl
Hogema
B
B
Tilly
B C
BC
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019814:Myristic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D019814:Myristic Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride