RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Distinct patterns of expression of two VAMP genes within the rat brain JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 1380 OP 1387 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.10-04-01380.1990 VO 10 IS 4 A1 WS Trimble A1 TS Gray A1 LA Elferink A1 MC Wilson A1 RH Scheller YR 1990 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/10/4/1380.abstract AB VAMPs are synaptic vesicle-specific proteins composed of a carboxy- terminal hydrophobic membrane anchor and an approximately 100 amino acid domain oriented towards the cytoplasm. In rat, two 77% homologous VAMP genes are expressed in the CNS. To precisely localize the neurons expressing these 2 forms of VAMP, we have used RNA blotting and in situ hybridization histochemistry with RNA probes specific for the 3′ untranslated regions of the transcripts. These experiments revealed that the 2 genes are expressed in distict, but slightly overlapping, patterns in the rat brain. VAMP-1 expression is localized to a limited number of nuclei, particularly those involved in modulating somatomotor functions, while VAMP-2 expression is more ubiquitous, being found in nuclei associated with autonomic, sensory, and integrative roles. These data suggest that the specific structural features of individual VAMPs may play an important role in synaptic vesicle metabolism.