Role of N-myristoyltransferase in Cellular Differentiation and Function.

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Proteins are functional output of genes in a cell. In general, proteins regulate physiological functions of a cell. Depending on the physiological need of the cell, structure of proteins alters to render them active or inactive. Change in protein structure is called protein modification and various molecules attach to proteins to modify them. Addition of a fat (fatty acid) molecule to protein is one such protein modification that alters its localization and activation in a cell. These greasy proteins play important role in cellular function. Fatty acid addition to protein is catalyzed by acyltransferases. Proposed research project aims at understanding the role of one specific kind of acyltransferase called N-myristolatransferase (NMT) that attaches fat molecule (myristic acid, 14 carbon fatty acid) to important signaling proteins that regulate cellular differentiation and function.