We describe a method for imaging palmitoylated proteins with subcellular resolution by using clickable bio-orthogonal fatty acid probes. An example is highlighted on how the method has utility to visualize and investigate the biology of Wnts, which are secreted palmitoylated glycoproteins that are important in embryonic development and human cancers. Palmitoylated Wnt3a is found in various subcellular compartments, shedding light onto its trafficking mechanism and the role of palmitoylation in Wnt secretion and signaling. Overall, our method is broadly applicable to imaging other palmitoylated cellular proteins, and it has utility in drug discovery for identifying specific modulators of protein palmitoylation.

Single cell imaging of protein palmitoylation

247th National Meeting (2014)

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