Protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review

Palmitoylation is a reversible lipid modification regulated by palmitoyl transferases and acyl-protein thioesterases, in which palmitic acid is attached to protein cysteine residues. This modification plays a pivotal role in modulating membrane localization and protein stability, and its dysregulati...

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Main Authors: Jingjing Liu, Shanshan Wang, Lei Fan, Xin Zhou, Sen Zhang, Qinglu Wang, Panpan Dong, Bo Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1615001/full
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author Jingjing Liu
Shanshan Wang
Lei Fan
Xin Zhou
Sen Zhang
Qinglu Wang
Panpan Dong
Bo Yu
author_facet Jingjing Liu
Shanshan Wang
Lei Fan
Xin Zhou
Sen Zhang
Qinglu Wang
Panpan Dong
Bo Yu
author_sort Jingjing Liu
collection DOAJ
description Palmitoylation is a reversible lipid modification regulated by palmitoyl transferases and acyl-protein thioesterases, in which palmitic acid is attached to protein cysteine residues. This modification plays a pivotal role in modulating membrane localization and protein stability, and its dysregulation is closely associated with various neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). In PD, synaptotagmin-11, encoded by the PD risk gene SYT11, has been shown to reduce physiological α-synuclein (α-syn) tetramer formation while promoting the aggregation-prone monomeric form in a palmitoylation-dependent manner. In the context of PD, inflammation generally precedes the abnormal aggregation of α-syn and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (DA). Microglial activation, regarded as an inflammatory state, is facilitated by the palmitoylation-dependent localization of NLRP3 to the trans-Golgi network, which promotes the activation and expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to DA neuron loss. Additionally, the DJ-1 protein, encoded by the risk gene PARK7, and the dopamine transporter both undergo palmitoylation and may contribute to disease progression. This review summarizes the emerging link between protein palmitoylation and PD pathogenesis. Understanding the dynamic regulatory mechanisms of palmitoylation and depalmitoylation may facilitate the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for PD.
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spelling doaj-art-d2116e7bbd4543dc91a83db14c84652f2025-08-20T03:50:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16150011615001Protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of Parkinson’s disease: a narrative reviewJingjing Liu0Shanshan Wang1Lei Fan2Xin Zhou3Sen Zhang4Qinglu Wang5Panpan Dong6Bo Yu7Graduate School of Education, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Zibo 148 Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Liuzhou, ChinaGraduate School of Education, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, ChinaGraduate School of Education, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, ChinaGraduate School of Education, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, ChinaCollege of Basic Medicine, Qilu Medical University, Zibo, Shandong, ChinaGraduate School of Education, Shandong Sport University, Jinan, ChinaPalmitoylation is a reversible lipid modification regulated by palmitoyl transferases and acyl-protein thioesterases, in which palmitic acid is attached to protein cysteine residues. This modification plays a pivotal role in modulating membrane localization and protein stability, and its dysregulation is closely associated with various neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). In PD, synaptotagmin-11, encoded by the PD risk gene SYT11, has been shown to reduce physiological α-synuclein (α-syn) tetramer formation while promoting the aggregation-prone monomeric form in a palmitoylation-dependent manner. In the context of PD, inflammation generally precedes the abnormal aggregation of α-syn and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (DA). Microglial activation, regarded as an inflammatory state, is facilitated by the palmitoylation-dependent localization of NLRP3 to the trans-Golgi network, which promotes the activation and expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to DA neuron loss. Additionally, the DJ-1 protein, encoded by the risk gene PARK7, and the dopamine transporter both undergo palmitoylation and may contribute to disease progression. This review summarizes the emerging link between protein palmitoylation and PD pathogenesis. Understanding the dynamic regulatory mechanisms of palmitoylation and depalmitoylation may facilitate the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for PD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1615001/fullParkinson’s diseasepalmitoylationα-synucleinsynaptotagmin-11NLRP3 inflammasome
spellingShingle Jingjing Liu
Shanshan Wang
Lei Fan
Xin Zhou
Sen Zhang
Qinglu Wang
Panpan Dong
Bo Yu
Protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review
Frontiers in Immunology
Parkinson’s disease
palmitoylation
α-synuclein
synaptotagmin-11
NLRP3 inflammasome
title Protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review
title_full Protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review
title_fullStr Protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review
title_short Protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of Parkinson’s disease: a narrative review
title_sort protein regulatory network mediated by palmitoylation modifications in the pathological progression of parkinson s disease a narrative review
topic Parkinson’s disease
palmitoylation
α-synuclein
synaptotagmin-11
NLRP3 inflammasome
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1615001/full
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