Vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 (VAMP8)

SNAREs, soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor- attachment protein receptors, are essential proteins for fusion of cellular membranes. SNAREs localized on opposing membranes assemble to form a trans-SNARE complicated, an extended, parallel four alpha-helical package that drives membrane fusion.

VAMP8 is a SNARE involved in autophagy during the direct control of autophagosome membrane fusion with the lysososome membrane via its interaction with the STX17-SNAP29 binary t-SNARE complicated (PubMed:23217709, PubMed:25686604). Plays also a function in regulated enzyme secretion in pancreatic acinar cells (By similarity).