title: Identification of PSD-95 palmitoylating enzymes.
abstract: Palmitoylation is a lipid modification that plays a critical role in protein trafficking and function throughout the nervous system. Palmitoylation of PSD-95 is essential for its regulation of AMPA receptors and synaptic plasticity. The enzymes that mediate palmitoyl acyl transfer to PSD-95 have not yet been identified; however, proteins containing a DHHC cysteine-rich domain mediate palmitoyl acyl transferase activity in yeast. Here, we isolated 23 mammalian DHHC proteins and found that a subset specifically palmitoylated PSD-95 in vitro and in vivo. These PSD-95 palmitoyl transferases (P-PATs) showed substrate specificity, as they did not all enhance palmitoylation of Lck, SNAP-25b, Galpha(s), or H-Ras in cultured cells. Inhibition of P-PAT activity in neurons reduced palmitoylation and synaptic clustering of PSD-95 and diminished AMPA receptor-mediated neurotransmission. This study suggests that P-PATs regulate synaptic function through PSD-95 palmitoylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukata
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukata
authors.forename: Hillel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adesnik
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nicoll
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bredt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D019556:COS Cells; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D051528:Guanylate Kinases; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501447:Dlg4 protein, mouse; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C033652:postsynaptic density proteins; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D002334:Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase; D051528:Guanylate Kinases