title: Distribution of soluble N-ethylmaleimide fusion protein attachment proteins (SNAPs) in the rat nervous system.
abstract: Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) attachment protein (SNAP) plays an essential role in vesicular transport and the release of neurotransmitters and hormones through associations with NSF and SNAP receptors (SNAREs). Three isoforms (alpha, beta and gamma) of SNAP are expressed in mammals. We have generated isoform-specific antibodies and studied the expression and distribution of these SNAP isoforms in the rat nervous system. Each antibody specifically recognized alpha-, beta- or gamma-SNAP in an isoform-specific manner in immunoblots of brain homogenate. Alpha- and gamma-SNAP were ubiquitously expressed in various tissues, whereas beta-SNAP was expressed only in brain. After subcellular fractionation of brain homogenates, all three isoforms were recovered in both soluble and particulate fractions. Immunohistochemistry revealed that alpha- and beta-SNAP were generally differentially distributed both in synaptic and non-synaptic regions, including brain white matter. The presynaptic location of both alpha- and beta-SNAP was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. At the neuromuscular junction, immunoreactive alpha-SNAP was identified in synaptic vesicles, while in the cerebellum, beta-SNAP was present in the presynaptic membranes of basket neuron and mossy fiber terminals. From these results we suggest that both alpha- and beta-SNAP may play an important role in neurotransmitter release as well as in constitutive vesicular transport.
authors.affiliation: Mitsubishi Kagaku Institute of Life Sciences, Machida, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishiki
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nihonmatsu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuhara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mizoguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D012995:Solubility; D052067:Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Proteins; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D052067:Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins