Lipid anchored protein

In lipid anchored proteins a covalently attached fatty acid such as palmitate or myristate serves to anchor them to the cytoplasmic face of the cell membrane. Examples include G proteins and certain kinases. It is believed that the fatty-acid chain inserts and assumes a place in the bilayer structure of the membrane alongside the similar fatty-acid tails of the surrounding lipid molecules. Potential points of attachment include the terminal amino group of the protein backbone and the side chain of cysteine residues.