Vesicular monoamine transporter 2

• OMIM: 193001
• UniProt: Q05940

The vesicular monoamine transporter ( VMAT, VMAT2 ) is a protein in the membrane of cytoplasmic vesicles within nerve cells. It facilitates the flow of the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, histamine and norepinephrine into the vesicles before they are discharged by means of exocytosis into the synaptic cleft. It is therefore in a membrane transporter VMAT2, ie from the major facilitator superfamily. VMAT2 is found only in vertebrates. In humans, VMAT2 is localized particularly in islet cells and in utero except in the CNS. VMAT2 in the pancreas plays a regulatory role in the insulin response to glucose.

The transport equation is:

It is an antiport.

There are gender differences in neuronal VMAT2 activity, which explain the different response to methamphetamine, as noted in a study with mice. The packaging of dopamine in dopaminergic neurons by VMAT2 is essential to prevent possible damage by oxidized dopamine in oxidative stress or after methamphetamine intake. Mice with only 5-10% of VMAT2 showed a rapid degradation of such neurons.

VMAT2 is through close association with insulin production in islet cells is a suitable target for the diagnosis of diabetes.

Several substances are known as inhibitors of VMAT2, including reserpine and tetrabenazine.

In his book "The God Gene " (engl. " The God gene. Why is our faith in the blood " ) blamed for religious feelings of the people of the molecular biologist Dean Hamer VMAT2. The soundness of his theory is still controversial.