Synaptotagmin 13: structure and expression of a novel synaptotagmin.

Synaptotagmins represent a family of putative vesicular trafficking proteins. With synaptotagmin 13, we have now identified a novel synaptotagmin, making this one of the largest families of trafficking proteins. Similar to synaptotagmins 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11, synaptotagmin 13 is expressed at highest levels in brain but is also detectable at lower levels in non-neuronal tissues. Synaptotagmin 13 is composed of the canonical domains of synaptotagmins that include an N-terminal transmembrane region and two C-terminal cytoplasmic C2-domains (C2A- and C2B-domain) and a connecting sequence between the transmembrane region and the C2-domains. Different from most other synaptotagmins, however, synaptotagmin 13 does not have an N-terminal sequence preceding the transmembrane region, and features an unusually long connecting sequence that is proline-rich. Furthermore, the C2-domains of synaptotagmin are degenerate and lack almost all of the residues involved in Ca2+ binding, suggesting that synaptotagmin 13 is not a Ca2+-binding protein unlike most other synaptotagmins. Our data demonstrate that synaptotagmins represent a larger and more complex gene family than previously envisioned.