Editing Lipid-anchored protein (section)

=== Roles and function ===
[[File:Synthesis of geranyl pyrophosphate.png|thumb|Prenylation chains (e.g. [[geranyl pyrophosphate]])]]
Prenylated proteins are particularly important for eukaryotic cell growth, differentiation and morphology.<ref name=":8" /> Furthermore, protein prenylation is a reversible post-translational modification to the cell membrane. This dynamic interaction of prenylated proteins with the cell membrane is important for their signalling functions and is often deregulated in disease processes such as cancer.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Stein V, Kubala MH, Steen J, Grimmond SM, Alexandrov K | title = Towards the systematic mapping and engineering of the protein prenylation machinery in Saccharomyces cerevisiae | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 10 | issue = 3 | pages = e0120716 | date = 2015-01-01 | pmid = 25768003 | pmc = 4358939 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0120716 | bibcode = 2015PLoSO..1020716S | doi-access = free }}</ref> More specifically, [[Ras subfamily|Ras]] is the protein that undergoes prenylation via [[farnesyltransferase]] and when it is switched on it can turn on genes involved in cell growth and differentiation. Thus overactiving Ras signalling can lead to cancer.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Goodsell DS | title = The molecular perspective: the ras oncogene | journal = The Oncologist | volume = 4 | issue = 3 | pages = 263–4 | date = 1999-01-01 | doi = 10.1634/theoncologist.4-3-263 | pmid = 10394594 | doi-access = free }}</ref> An understanding of these prenylated proteins and their mechanisms have been important for the drug development efforts in combating cancer.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Reuter CW, Morgan MA, Bergmann L | title = Targeting the Ras signaling pathway: a rational, mechanism-based treatment for hematologic malignancies? | journal = Blood | volume = 96 | issue = 5 | pages = 1655–69 | date = September 2000 | pmid = 10961860 | doi = 10.1182/blood.V96.5.1655 }}</ref> Other prenylated proteins include members of the [[Rab (G-protein)|Rab]] and Rho families as well as [[lamin]]s.<ref name=":8" />

Some important prenylation chains that are involved in the [[HMG-CoA reductase]] [[metabolic pathway]]<ref name="Karp2009" /> are [[geranylgeraniol]], [[farnesol]] and [[dolichol]]. These isoprene polymers (e.g. [[geranyl pyrophosphate]] and [[farnesyl pyrophosphate]]) are involved in the condensations via enzymes such as [[prenyltransferase]] that eventually cyclizes to form [[cholesterol]].<ref name=":0" />