Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
16:33
Detection of Protein Palmitoylation in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons by Immunoprecipitation and Acyl-Biotin Exchange (ABE)
Published on: February 18, 2013
Neuronal activity moves protein palmitoylation into the synapse
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. dalva@mail.med.upenn.edu
The Journal of Cell Biology
|July 15, 2009
Summary
Neuronal activity regulates DHHC2 protein palmitoyltransferase localization. This activity-dependent localization controls synaptic protein palmitoylation and accumulation, impacting neuronal function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Neuronal proteins are regulated by lipid modifications like palmitoylation.
- Protein palmitoyl acyltransferases (PATs) mediate palmitoylation.
- The localization and function of PATs are crucial for neuronal processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulation of DHHC2 PAT localization by neuronal activity.
- To understand how DHHC2 localization impacts synaptic protein palmitoylation.
- To elucidate the role of activity-dependent palmitoylation in synaptic protein accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized techniques to monitor DHHC2 localization in neurons.
- Assessed the impact of neuronal activity on DHHC2 localization.
- Quantified palmitoylation of specific synaptic proteins.
- Analyzed the accumulation of palmitoylated proteins at the synapse.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that neuronal activity regulates the localization of DHHC2.
- Showed that DHHC2's localization controls the palmitoylation of specific synaptic proteins.
- Confirmed that DHHC2 activity selectively influences the accumulation of these proteins in the synapse.
Conclusions:
- Neuronal activity dynamically regulates DHHC2 localization.
- DHHC2 acts as a key mediator of activity-dependent palmitoylation at the synapse.
- This mechanism contributes to the selective accumulation of proteins, influencing synaptic plasticity and function.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:12Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
01:09Synaptic Signaling
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
Most synapses are chemical, meaning an electrical impulse or action potential spurs the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The neuron sending the signal is called the presynaptic neuron, and the neuron receiving the signal is the postsynaptic neuron.
The presynaptic neuron fires an action potential that...
02:47The Synapse
Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.
01:26Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane
Proteins and neurotransmitters in secretory vesicles can be released from a cell upon vesicle docking, priming, and fusion with the plasma membrane. Vesicles are docked and primed in preparation for the quick exocytosis of their contents in response to a stimulus. The fusion process is mainly carried out by a SNAP Receptor or SNARE complex, consisting of synaptobrevin, syntaxin-1, and SNAP-25.
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
01:26Chemical Synapses
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
01:26Chemical Synapses
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...