Molecular analysis of vesicular amine transporter function and targeting to secretory organelles

FASEB J. 2000 Dec;14(15):2450-8. doi: 10.1096/fj.00-0206rev.

Abstract

Vesicular transporters are responsible for the loading of neurotransmitters into specialized secretory organelles in neurons and neuroendocrine cells to make them available for regulated neurosecretion. The exocytotic release of neurotransmitter therefore depends on the functional activity of the vesicular transporters and their efficient sorting to these secretory organelles. Molecular analysis of vesicular transport proteins has revealed important information regarding structural domains responsible for their functional properties, including substrate specificity and trafficking to various classes of secretory vesicles. These studies have established the existence of an important functional relationship between transporter activity and presynaptic quantal neurosecretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amines / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Exocytosis*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Transport Proteins*
  • Neuropeptides*
  • Organelles / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport
  • Protons
  • Synaptic Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins
  • Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins*

Substances

  • Amines
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Protons
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins
  • Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins