Patent ID: 7883860

Claim:
A method of screening for modulators of a human palmitoyltransferase, the method comprising: (a) providing an isolated, active human palmitoyltransferase protein complex comprising a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 (DHHC9) and the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:14 (hE4-1) or a complex comprising SEQ ID NO:7 (DHHC 9) and the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:15 (hE4-2) ; (b) contacting said human palmitoyltransferase complex with a candidate substance and a source of palmitate; and (c) measuring palmitate transfer to said palmitoyltransferase (autopalmitoylation) in the presence and absence of candidate substance, wherein a change in palmitate transfer to said human palmitoyltransferase, as compared to palmitate transfer to said human palmitoyltransferase in the absence of said candidate substance, indicates that said candidate substance is a modulator of human palmitoylation.