Soluble NSF-attachment proteins.
Soluble NSF-attachment proteins (SNAPs) are highly conserved proteins that participate in intracellular membrane fusion and vesicular trafficking. In mammals, there are three different isoforms of SNAPs, alpha-, beta- and gamma-SNAP. alpha- and gamma-SNAP are ubiquitously expressed, whereas beta-SNAP is the brain-specific isoform. SNAPs recruit NSF to the membrane after being bound to specific membrane receptors termed SNAREs, NSF, SNAPs and SNAREs form a heterooligomeric complex that is disrupted upon ATP hydrolysis by NSF, which is a prerequisite of membrane fusion. In addition, beta-SNAP interacts with the putative synaptic calcium sensor protein, synaptotagmin, and may be involved in calcium-regulated exocytosis. In the future, this property might be exploited for the development of new therapeutics for certain CNS pathologies.
Bone and Mineral Centre, Rayne Institute 5, London, U.K.
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G
Stenbeck
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012995:Solubility; D052067:Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D052067:Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins