Vesicle associated membrane proteins (VAMP) are a family of

SNARE proteins SNARE proteins – " SNAP REceptor" – are a large protein family consisting of at least 24 members in yeasts, more than 60 members in mammalian cells, and some numbers in plants. The primary role of SNARE proteins is to mediate vesicle fu ...

with similar structure, and are mostly involved in

vesicle fusion Vesicle fusion is the merging of a vesicle with other vesicles or a part of a cell membrane. In the latter case, it is the end stage of secretion from secretory vesicles, where their contents are expelled from the cell through exocytosis. Vesicles c ...

. *

VAMP1 Vesicle-associated membrane protein 1 (VAMP1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''VAMP1'' gene. Function Synaptobrevins/VAMPs, syntaxins, and the 25-kD synaptosomal-associated protein SNAP25 are the main components of a protein comp ...

and

VAMP2 Vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''VAMP2'' gene. Function Synaptobrevins/VAMPs, syntaxins, and the 25-kD synaptosomal-associated protein SNAP25 are the main components of a protein ...

proteins known as

synaptobrevin Synaptobrevins (''synaptobrevin isotypes 1-2'') are small integral membrane proteins of secretory vesicles with molecular weight of 18 kilodalton (kDa) that are part of the vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) family. Synaptobrevi ...

s are expressed in brain and are constituents of the synaptic vesicles, where they participate in

neurotransmitter release Exocytosis () is a form of active transport and bulk transport in which a cell transports molecules (e.g., neurotransmitters and proteins) out of the cell ('' exo-'' + ''cytosis''). As an active transport mechanism, exocytosis requires the use of ...

. *

VAMP3 Vesicle-associated membrane protein 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''VAMP3'' gene. Function Synaptobrevins/VAMPs, syntaxins, and the 25-kD synaptosomal-associated protein are the main components of a protein complex involved i ...

(known as cellubrevin) is ubiquitously expressed and participates in regulated and constitutive

exocytosis Exocytosis () is a form of active transport and bulk transport in which a cell transports molecules (e.g., neurotransmitters and proteins) out of the cell ('' exo-'' + ''cytosis''). As an active transport mechanism, exocytosis requires the use o ...

as a constituent of secretory granules and secretory vesicles. *

VAMP5 ''Vesicle-associated membrane protein 5'' also known as ''VAMP5'' is a human gene which encodes a member of the synaptobrevin protein family. Function VAMPs (synaptobrevins) along with syntaxins and the 25-kD synaptosomal-associated protein are th ...

and VAMP7 (

SYBL1 Synaptobrevin-like protein 1 (SYBL1), also known as vesicle-associated membrane protein 7 (VAMP7), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''VAMP7'', or ''SYBL1'', gene. Function SYBL1 is a transmembrane protein that is a member of the s ...

) participate in constitutive exocytosis. ** VAMP5 is a constituent of secretory vesicles, myotubes and tubulovesicular structures. ** VAMP7 is found both in secretory granules and endosomes. *

VAMP8 Vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''VAMP8'' gene. Synaptobrevins/VAMPs, syntaxins, and the 25-kD synaptosomal-associated protein SNAP25 are the main components of a protein complex involved in the ...

(known as endobrevin) participates in

endocytosis Endocytosis is a cellular process in which substances are brought into the cell. The material to be internalized is surrounded by an area of cell membrane, which then buds off inside the cell to form a vesicle containing the ingested material. E ...

and is found in early endosomes. VAMP8 also participates the regulated exocytosis in pancreatic acinar cells. *

VAMP4 Vesicle-associated membrane protein 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''VAMP4'' gene. Function Synaptobrevins/VAMPs, syntaxins, and the 25-kD synaptosomal-associated protein SNAP25 are the main components of a protein complex inv ...

is involved in transport from the Golgi.

References

External links

* Membrane proteins {{membrane-protein-stub