ZDHHC17 is a neuronal palmitoyl transferase. Palmitoylation is critical for trafficking and function of signaling molecules, neurotransmitter receptors, and synaptic scaffolding proteins in neurons. ZDHHC17 causes cellular transformation. It has been shown that mRNA encoding ZDHHC17 is up-regulated in a number of types of human tumors, thus ZDHHC17 and other PATs (palmitoyl acyltransferases) are potential targets for new anticancer drugs.