VMAT2

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solute carrier family 18 (vesicular monoamine), member 2
Identifiers
Symbol	SLC18A2 VMAT2
HUGO	10935
Entrez	6571
OMIM	193001
RefSeq	NM_003054
UniProt	Q05940
Other data
Locus	Chr. 10 q25

A study by the National Cancer Institute on over 200 subjects (including twins), has identified the VMAT2 gene to correlate to spirituality and religion. It was led by the geneticist Dean Hamer.

^[1]

Contents 1 Impairment and Dysfunction 2 Binding Sites and Ligands 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Impairment and Dysfunction

Cocaine users display a marked reduction in VMAT2 immunoreactivity. Suffers of cocaine-induced mood disorders displayed a significant loss of VMAT2 immunoreactivity, this might reflect damage to striatal dopamine fibers. These neuronal changes could play a role in causing disordered mood and motivational processes in more severely addicted users.^[2]

[edit] Binding Sites and Ligands

One binding site is that of DTBZ. Lobeline binds at this site. At a distinct site dextroamphetamine binds. Its activity at VMAT2 is a crucial part of its monoamine releasing action.

[edit] References

1. ^ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/11/14/ngod14.xml Elizabeth Day (2004)
2. ^ K.Y. Little et al. (2003). Am J Psychiatry 160, 47-55. Loss of Striatal Vesicular Monoamine Transporter Protein (VMAT2) in Human Cocaine Users

[edit] External links

• MeSH Vesicular+Monoamine+Transporter+2