SNAP-25 is present on the Golgi apparatus of retinal neurons

SNAP-25 is a neuronal SNARE protein required for synaptic vesicle exocytosi s and neurite outgrowth. Here we show that in addition to synaptic staining , SNAP-25 immunoreactivity is also localized to an intracellular, perinucle ar compartment of retinal neurons. Double-labeling with an antibody against the 58 kD resident protein of the trans-golgi network Indicates that the i ntracellular SNAP-25 is localized to the Golgi complex. Immune-electron mic roscopic localization of SNAP-25 confirmed its presence on the Golgi appara tus of photoreceptors, bipolar cells, amacrine cells and ganglion cells in the retina. These data implicate SNAP-25 in the trafficking of Golgi-derive d vesicles in neurons in addition to the synaptic vesicle cycle. NeuroRepor t 11:85-88 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.