Vesicle-associated membrane protein explained

Vesicle associated membrane proteins (VAMPs) are a family of SNARE proteins with similar structure, and are mostly involved in vesicle fusion.

• VAMP1 and VAMP2 proteins known as synaptobrevins are expressed in brain and are constituents of the synaptic vesicles, where they participate in neurotransmitter release.
• VAMP3 (known as cellubrevin) is ubiquitously expressed and participates in regulated and constitutive exocytosis as a constituent of secretory granules and secretory vesicles.
• VAMP5 and VAMP7 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 (known as endobrevin) participates in endocytosis and is found in early endosomes. VAMP8 also participates the regulated exocytosis in pancreatic acinar cells.
• VAMP4 is involved in transport from the Golgi.^[1]

References

1. Steegmaier M, Klumperman J, Foletti DL, Yoo JS, Scheller RH . Vesicle-associated membrane protein 4 is implicated in trans-Golgi network vesicle trafficking . Mol. Biol. Cell . 10 . 6 . 1957–72 . 1999 . 10359608 . 10.1091/mbc.10.6.1957. 25394.