Synaptotagmin VII (SYT7)

Synaptotagmins, such as SYT7, are brain-specific calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins that play a role in synaptic exocytosis and neurotransmitter release. The predicted 403-amino acid human and rat proteins are 98% identical. Northern blot analysis revealed that synaptotagmin VII is expressed as 4.4- and 7.5-kb mRNAs in a variety of human adult and fetal tissues, including those from different regions of the brain.The 2 minor isoforms contain unique insertions in the spacer domain between the transmembrane and C2 domains. Similar results were obtained with respect to human SYT7. Expression of fluorescence-tagged Syt7 in rat pheochromocytoma cells revealed localization in the perinuclear region, where it colocalized with a Golgi marker protein, and localization in the tips of neurites.