A proteomics study unveils a large collection of proteins that get reversibly palmitoylated in response to neuronal activity — the neuronal palmitoyl-proteome. In particular, this study focuses on the discovery of a brain-specific isoform of the small GTPase Cdc42, whose unexpected palmitoylation specifically affects dendritic spine morphogenesis in response to neuronal activity. These findings identify palmitoylation as a key modifiable signal on many synapse-enriched proteins that contribute to activity-driven changes in synapse morphology and function.
- Rujun Kang
- Junmei Wan
- Alaa El-Husseini
