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Updated: Aug 18, 2025
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Detection of Protein Palmitoylation in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons by Immunoprecipitation and Acyl-Biotin Exchange ABE
Published on: February 18, 2013
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Synaptic activity-dependent changes in the hippocampal palmitoylome.
Glory G Nasseri1, Nusrat Matin1, Angela R Wild1
1Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Science Signaling
|December 6, 2022
Summary
Dynamic protein palmitoylation is crucial for brain plasticity and memory. This study identified key proteins in the hippocampus whose palmitoylation changes with learning, impacting synaptic function and memory formation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Dynamic protein S-palmitoylation is essential for neuronal function, development, and synaptic plasticity.
- Activity-dependent changes in protein palmitoylation are known for a limited number of proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the dynamic changes in protein palmitoylation in the mouse hippocampus following context-dependent fear conditioning.
- To investigate the role of protein palmitoylation in synaptic plasticity and memory formation.
Main Methods:
- Proteomic analysis of palmitoylated proteins in mouse hippocampi before and after fear conditioning.
- Analysis of palmitoylated proteins in cultured rat hippocampal neurons undergoing chemically induced long-term potentiation.
- Investigating the role of plasticity-related gene-1 (PRG-1/LPPR4) palmitoylation in AMPA receptor trafficking.
Main Results:
- Identified 121 differentially palmitoylated proteins, with over half associated with synaptic functions.
- Synaptic proteins showed increased palmitoylation post-fear conditioning, while metabolic proteins showed decreased palmitoylation.
- Palmitoylation of PRG-1/LPPR4 was critical for activity-induced insertion of AMPA receptors.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic protein palmitoylation is a key regulator of synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory.
- Identified novel proteins involved in learning and memory through activity-dependent palmitoylation.
- Protein palmitoylation represents a potential therapeutic target for cognitive disorders.
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