Research Progress of Protein Palmitoylation in Cancer

WU Pengfei, ZHANG Lanlan, ZHANG Yujie, SI Yan, HE Huimin, ZHANG Buchang, XU Changzhi*

(Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China)

Abstract:

Palmitoylation is a reversible posttranslational modification of proteins, which has a prominent role in dynamic regulating protein location, trafficking and stability. Palmitoylation of proteins are mainly catalyzed by ZDHHC palmitoyltransferase. ZDHHC-mediated palmitoylation of cancer-related protein is essential for cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Most of the 23 members of human ZDHHC family involved in regulation of tumor development, raising the possibility of therapeutic strategies targeting this modification process. Here the research progress of ZDHHC-mediated palmitoylation in different cancers was reviewed and the potential of targeting this pathway in cancer treatment was also discussed.