MOLECULAR-CLONING OF SYNAPHINS COMPLEXINS, CYTOSOLIC PROTEINS INVOLVED IN TRANSMITTER RELEASE, IN THE ELECTRIC ORGAN OF AN ELECTRIC RAY (NARKE JAPONICA)/

Synaphins/complexins are cytosolic proteins associated with the dockin g/fusion complex crucial to transmitter release, The electric organ of the electric ray Narke japonica contained at least two kinds of synap hins as revealed by immunoblotting. cDNAs for three synaphins were clo ned from a cDNA library prepared from the electric lobe where cell bod ies of electromotor nerves innervating the electric organ exist. The p roteins encoded by these cDNAs were named Nj-synaphins 1a, 1b and 2 on the basis of their high homologies (83-93%) to mammalian synaphins 1 and 2. Nj-Synaphins were immunoprecipitated by an anti-syntaxin monocl onal antibody, together with syntaxin, SNAP-25 and VAMP (synaptobrevin ), suggesting the presence of a docking/fusion complex similar to that in the mammalian brain. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.