Carrier vesicles

Carrier vesicles are membrane-enclosed structures that serve as the primary vehicles for the transport of proteins, lipids, and other macromolecules between cellular compartments or between cells. This broad category includes intracellular transport vesicles (such as COPI, COPII, and clathrin-coated vesicles) and extracellular vesicles (such as exosomes and microvesicles) [1][2]. Intracellularly, these vesicles are essential for maintaining organelle identity and protein secretion, while extracellularly, they facilitate systemic communication by carrying signaling molecules and genetic material [2][5]. In the nervous system, synaptic vesicles are a specialized form of carrier vesicle that store and release neurotransmitters, a process critical for synaptic plasticity and signal transmission [3]. Because "carrier vesicles" refers to a diverse group of organelles rather than a single molecular entity, they are not considered a discrete therapeutic target. Instead, drug discovery efforts focus on specific proteins that regulate vesicle dynamics, such as the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) or the synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) [4]. Dysregulation of these vesicular processes is implicated in a wide array of pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, metabolic diseases, and cancer progression [2][5]. Drugs like Brefeldin A and Botulinum toxin demonstrate the therapeutic potential and risks of modulating vesicle-mediated pathways [3][6].

Other names

Transport vesiclesIntracellular vesiclesExtracellular vesiclesSynaptic vesiclesMembrane-bound vesicles

Drugs typically target specific proteins associated with vesicle membranes or trafficking machinery to modulate cargo transport, storage, and release.