The Role of Vti1a in Biological Functions and Its Possible Role in Nervous System Disorders

Abstract

Vesicle transport through interaction with t-SNAREs 1A (Vti1a), a member of the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor protein family, is involved in cell signaling as a vesicular protein and mediates vesicle trafficking. Vti1a appears to have specific roles in neurons, primarily by regulating upstream neurosecretory events that mediate exocytotic proteins and the availability of secretory organelles, as well as regulating spontaneous synaptic transmission and postsynaptic efficacy to control neurosecretion. Vti1a also has essential roles in neural development, autophagy, and unconventional extracellular transport of neurons. Studies have shown that Vti1a dysfunction plays critical roles in pathological mechanisms of Hepatic encephalopathy by influencing spontaneous neurotransmission. It also may have an unknown role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A VTI1A variant is associated with the risk of glioma, and the fusion product of the VTI1A gene and the adjacent TCF7L2 gene is involved in glioma development. This review summarizes Vti1a functions in neurons and highlights the role of Vti1a in the several nervous system disorders.

Keywords: N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor protein; Vti1a; gene fusion; neurosecretion; spontaneous synaptic transmission.