biostudies-literatureHohoff CDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF) of the University of Münster Medical School20https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11759705biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Chronic stress (CS) is a debilitating condition that negatively affects body and brain. In mice, CS effects range from changes in behaviour and brain microstructure down to the level of gene expression. These effects are partly mediated by sex and sex steroid hormones, which in turn are affected by the palmitoyl acyltransferase ZDHHC7. ZDHHC7 might modulate also the response to CS via palmitoylation of sex steroid hormone receptors and other proteins critical for neuronal structure and functions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of ZDHHC7 in response to CS on different system levels in a mouse model of Zdhhc7-deficiency. Female and male Zdhhc7-knockout (KO) and -wildtype (WT) mice underwent a four-week-mild CS paradigm or non-stress control (C) condition. After C or CS, behaviouTranslational psychiatryDeficiency of the palmitoyl acyltransferase ZDHHC7 modulates depression-like behaviour in female mice after a mild chronic stress paradigm.PMC11759705PO732ZH 34/3-1Baune BTZhang MStiehl LZang JCSPonimaskin EZhang WHuge ASchettler CFaber CKerkenberg NPalkowska WHohoff CWachsmuth LPeng MfalseDeficiency of the palmitoyl acyltransferase ZDHHC7 modulates depression-like behaviour in female mice after a mild chronic stress paradigm.Chronic stress (CS) is a debilitating condition that negatively affects body and brain. In mice, CS effects range from changes in behaviour and brain microstructure down to the level of gene expression. These effects are partly mediated by sex and sex steroid hormones, which in turn are affected by the palmitoyl acyltransferase ZDHHC7. ZDHHC7 might modulate also the response to CS via palmitoylation of sex steroid hormone receptors and other proteins critical for neuronal structure and functions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of ZDHHC7 in response to CS on different system levels in a mouse model of Zdhhc7-deficiency. Female and male Zdhhc7-knockout (KO) and -wildtype (WT) mice underwent a four-week-mild CS paradigm or non-stress control (C) condition. After C or CS, behaviou2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jan2026-06-02T07:11:27.15Z2025-04-05T00:26:05.919ZS-EPMC117597053985604410.1038/s41398-025-03240-7