The Role of Lipid-Protein Dynamics in Diseases Development: Focus on S-Palmitoylation and Cancer

Protein lipidation, a crucial post-translational modification, plays a fundamental role in regulating protein function, localization, and stability. Among the different lipidation types, S-palmitoylation is one of the most extensively studied due to its dynamic and reversible nature. Hence, this review explores the enzymatic regulation and catalytic mechanisms of S-palmitoylation, with a focus on its physiological functions and pathological implications, particularly in cancer. Dysregulation of S-palmitoylation has been linked to enhanced tumour progression, metabolic adaptation, and immune evasion in various cancers. Conversely, it also exhibits tumor-suppressive effects by promoting the degradation of oncogenic proteins. Despite promising preclinical findings, targeted therapies leveraging S-palmitoylation regulation remain underdeveloped. This review consolidates current knowledge on the role of S-palmitoylation in disease development, highlighting its therapeutic potential and the need for further clinical research.