Synaptosomal-associated protein 23

SNAP23 (synaptosomal-associated protein 23) is a 23 kDa SNARE protein that functions as an essential component of the high-affinity receptor for general membrane fusion machinery and acts as an important regulator of transport vesicle docking and fusion (UniProt: O00161). The protein is primarily associated with synaptosomal compartments and plays a critical role in vesicular trafficking processes essential for neuronal function.

In Alzheimer's Disease, SNAP23 shows disease relevance based on proteomic profiling of human post-mortem AD brain tissue. The protein is upregulated in AD brain compared to age-matched controls, with a mean log2 fold-change of 0.28 across subcellular fractions (Chaparral AD proteomics). This measurement derives from TMT-labeled quantitative mass spectrometry across four subcellular fractions (P2, P3, S2, S3), indicating a modest but consistent increase in SNAP23 abundance in the AD brain proteome. The upregulation may reflect compensatory alterations in vesicular trafficking pathways affected during neurodegeneration.