Many proteins are post-translationally modified by lipid moieties such as palmitoyl or prenyl (e.g., farnesyl) groups, creating functional proteolipids. Lipid modifications share the property of increasing a protein’s hydrophobicity and thus the propensity of that protein to associate with a membrane. These modifications are used to control the localization and activity of membrane-associated proteins. A well-recognized paradigm is farnesylation of the Ras GTPase that helps target this critical signaling protein to the plasma membrane.~(1) Schafer WR, Rine J. Protein prenylation: genes, enzymes, targets, and functions. Annu Rev Genet 1992; 26:209 - 37; http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ge.26.120192.001233; PMID: 1482112 [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®]?[Google Scholar].
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