Protein unc-13 homolog B (UNC13B)

UNC13B, also known as Protein unc-13 homolog B (Munc13-2), is a multidomain presynaptic active zone protein required for synaptic vesicle priming and effective neurotransmitter release. Highly expressed in the brain, especially the cerebral cortex, and in other tissues including kidney and eye, UNC13B interacts with diacylglycerol and calmodulin, and contains multiple C2 domains and a DAG-binding C1 domain. Hyperglycemia can upregulate its expression and induce apoptosis in kidney cells. In the nervous system, UNC13B orchestrates the assembly and positioning of synaptic vesicles, controls the location and efficiency of vesicle release, and enables fast, reliable neurotransmission by facilitating the fusion of vesicles with the neuronal membrane. It is distinct from the closely related UNC13A, contributing uniquely to neural information processing, such as olfactory decoding, and its dysfunction or altered expression has been implicated in several neurologic and renal diseases.

Other names

UNC13BMunc13-2Protein unc-13 homolog BUncoordinated-13 homolog BHomolog of rat Munc13 (diacylglycerol-binding)Unc13h2UNC13Munc13Hmunc13Protein unc-13-likeUnc13-like