Synaptobrevin homolog YKT6

YKT6 (synaptobrevin homolog YKT6) is a vesicular soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (v-SNARE) that mediates vesicle docking and membrane fusion events (UniProt: O15498). The protein functions in endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi transport as part of SNARE complexes and in early/recycling endosome-to-trans-Golgi network transport. YKT6 also possesses S-palmitoyl transferase activity and is essential for proper Golgi apparatus organization (UniProt: O15498).

YKT6 operates primarily in secretory and endosomal trafficking pathways, serving a fundamental role in intracellular membrane transport. No disease associations are documented in UniProt for this protein.

In Alzheimer's disease, YKT6 is downregulated in post-mortem AD brain tissue compared to age-matched controls (Chaparral AD proteomics). The protein showed a mean log2 fold-change of −0.42 across quantified subcellular fractions in TMT-labeled discovery proteomics of four brain fractions (P2, P3, S2, S3). This downregulation may reflect compromised vesicular trafficking capacity in AD brain, potentially contributing to the secretory and endosomal dysfunction observed in neurodegeneration.