InterPro domain: IPR027057

Following prenylation, proteins are subject to prenyl-dependent modifications at their C-terminal end, which are required for their subcellular targeting. The three C-terminal residues of the CAAX box prenylation signaling motif are removed before methylation of the free carboxyl group of the prenyl cysteine moiety.

CAAX prenyl protease 1 (also known as Ste24p) removes the C-terminal three residues of CAAX [ 1 , 2 ]. It also acts to cleave the N-terminal extension of the farnesylated A-factor mating pheromone in Saccharomyces cerevisiae [ 3 , 3 , 4 ].

1. The Arabidopsis AtSTE24 is a CAAX protease with broad substrate specificity. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 29856-64
2. Dual roles for Ste24p in yeast a-factor maturation: NH2-terminal proteolysis and COOH-terminal CAAX processing. J. Cell Biol. 142, 635-49
3. Roles of prenyl protein proteases in maturation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor. Genetics 150, 95-101
4. Reconstitution of the Ste24p-dependent N-terminal proteolytic step in yeast a-factor biogenesis. J. Biol. Chem. 275, 6227-33