SNAP23

Specificity of vesicular transport is regulated, in part, by the interaction of a vesicle-associated membrane protein termed synaptobrevin/VAMP with a target compartment membrane protein termed syntaxin. These proteins, together with SNAP25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa), form a complex which serves as a binding site for the general membrane fusion machinery. Synaptobrevin/VAMP and syntaxin are believed to be involved in vesicular transport in most, if not all cells, while SNAP25 is present almost exclusively in the brain, suggesting that a ubiquitously expressed homolog of SNAP25 exists to facilitate transport vesicle/target membrane fusion in other tissues. The protein encoded by this gene is structurally and functionally similar to SNAP25 and binds tightly to multiple syntaxins and synaptobrevins/VAMPs. It is an essential component of the high affinity receptor for the general membrane fusion machinery and is an important regulator of transport vesicle docking and fusion. Two alternative transcript variants encoding different protein isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Full Name

Synaptosome Associated Protein 23

Function

Essential component of the high affinity receptor for the general membrane fusion machinery and an important regulator of transport vesicle docking and fusion.

Biological Process

Biological Process exocytosisManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central
Biological Process histamine secretion by mast cellManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIMP:UniProtKB
Biological Process membrane fusionManual Assertion Based On ExperimentTAS:ProtInc
Biological Process post-Golgi vesicle-mediated transportManual Assertion Based On ExperimentTAS:ProtInc
Biological Process protein transportIEA:UniProtKB-KW
Biological Process synaptic vesicle fusion to presynaptic active zone membraneManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central
Biological Process synaptic vesicle primingManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central
Biological Process vesicle fusionManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central
Biological Process vesicle targetingManual Assertion Based On ExperimentTAS:ProtInc

Cellular Location

Cell membrane
Cell membrane
Synapse, synaptosome
Mainly localized to the plasma membrane.