Human Amphiphysin (AMPH) Protein

Background

AMPH or Amphiphysin, is a protein that plays important roles in the nervous system, particularly in synaptic vesicle endocytosis and membrane trafficking. Amphiphysin is a cytosolic protein found in nerve terminals, especially in the brain. It belongs to a family of proteins that contain an N-terminal BAR (Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs) domain, a central coiled-coil domain, and a C-terminal SH3 (Src homology 3) domain. One of the main functions of Amphiphysin is its involvement in synaptic vesicle endocytosis, a process crucial for maintaining neurotransmission at synapses. It helps in the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles, which are responsible for internalizing neurotransmitter-containing vesicles after they have released their contents into the synaptic cleft.The BAR domain of Amphiphysin allows it to sense and induce membrane curvature. This ability is important for its role in shaping membranes during vesicle formation and trafficking. Amphiphysin interacts with dynamin, another protein involved in vesicle formation and fission. This interaction is crucial for the scission of clathrin-coated vesicles from the plasma membrane during endocytosis