Unc-13 Homolog A (UNC13A)

Proteins of the UNC13 family, such as UNC13A, are diacylglycerol and phorbol ester receptors with ligand affinities similar to those of protein kinase C. Rodent Unc13a is a presynaptic protein with an essential role in synaptic vesicle priming.

The 3-prime UTR of the UNC13A transcript contains several repetitive elements. The deduced 986-amino acid protein shares 96% amino acid identity with its rat homolog, Munc13-1. RT-PCR ELISA detected high UNC13A expression in adult brain and in in several specific brain regions. Expression was lower in fetal brain and lowest in adult spleen, testis, pancreas, ovary, heart, and lung. No expression was detected in adult liver, skeletal muscle, and kidney or in fetal liver.