Affinage

SYTL3

Synaptotagmin-like protein 3 · UniProt Q4VX76

Length
610 aa
Mass
68.6 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-10
41 papers in source corpus 13 papers cited in narrative 13 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 6/6 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

SYTL3 (Slp3) is a peripheral membrane Rab27 effector of the synaptotagmin-like protein family that couples Rab27-decorated secretory granules to microtubule motors to drive their terminal transport and exocytosis (PMID:11243866, PMID:22308290). It is a C-terminal-type tandem C2 protein whose C2A domain is an atypical Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding module that, unlike canonical synaptotagmin C2A, depends on Glu-336/Glu-337 in Ca2+-binding loop 1 together with a polybasic Lys-359/360/361 sequence in the β-4 strand (PMID:11243866, PMID:12049610). Its N-terminal Slp homology domain confers Rab27 binding: the Rab27A-binding isoform Slp3-a, but not the SHD-lacking Slp3-b, promotes regulated dense-core vesicle exocytosis (PMID:12176990). In cytotoxic T lymphocytes, SYTL3 acts as a Rab27a effector that bridges to kinesin-1 through the TPR domain of the kinesin light chain, forming a Rab27a/Slp3/kinesin-1 complex that delivers lytic granules to the immune synapse, and it operates downstream of LYST in this exocytic pathway (PMID:22308290, PMID:25425525). In mast cells the analogous Rab27b/Slp3/kinesin-1 complex assembles in a PI3K-dependent manner upon IgE receptor stimulation to drive secretory-granule transport, degranulation, and anaphylaxis in vivo, with granule loading of Slp3 being separable from kinesin-1 motor recruitment (PMID:27810912, PMID:35316306). Beyond classical secretion, SYTL3 mediates Rab27b-dependent exocytosis of intracellular BCG from bladder urothelial cells and restrains cortical neuronal migration via control of matrix metalloproteinases (PMID:32737155, PMID:33657377).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 10 steps
  1. 2001 Medium

    Establishing SYTL3 as a distinct synaptotagmin-like protein answered whether a new tandem-C2 family member existed with potential membrane and protein-interaction roles, defining its domain architecture.

    Evidence Molecular cloning, sequence alignment, subcellular fractionation and in vitro binding in a single study

    PMID:11243866 PMID:11327731

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional role of the SHD1/SHD2 domains not directly tested
    • Physiological relevance of in vitro neurexin Iα binding unestablished
    • No cellular phenotype assigned
  2. 2002 High

    Mutagenesis of the C2A domain resolved how SYTL3 achieves Ca2+-dependent lipid binding despite lacking the canonical acidic residue set, defining an atypical Ca2+-sensing mechanism.

    Evidence In vitro Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding, site-directed mutagenesis and chimeric domain analysis

    PMID:12049610

    Open questions at the time
    • Structural basis not resolved
    • Lipid specificity in a cellular membrane context not defined
    • Link between Ca2+ sensing and a secretion step not established
  3. 2002 Medium

    Comparing Rab27A-binding (Slp3-a) versus non-binding (Slp3-b) isoforms showed that SHD-mediated Rab27A binding is required for SYTL3 to promote regulated exocytosis, distinguishing it from inhibitory Slp family members.

    Evidence Overexpression of isoforms in PC12 cells with NPY secretion assay and fractionation

    PMID:12176990

    Open questions at the time
    • Overexpression system may not reflect endogenous regulation
    • Downstream transport machinery not yet identified
    • Single cell type tested
  4. 2012 High

    Identifying the Rab27a/Slp3/kinesin-1 complex answered how lytic granules reach the immune synapse, placing SYTL3 as the molecular bridge between the Rab GTPase and the microtubule motor.

    Evidence Reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation, knockdown/inhibition, live imaging and CTL killing assays

    PMID:22308290

    Open questions at the time
    • Stoichiometry and assembly order of the tripartite complex unresolved
    • Regulation of complex formation in CTLs not defined
    • Role of the C2 Ca2+-sensing domain in this complex untested
  5. 2015 Medium

    Rescue of CHS CTLs by SYTL3 expression positioned it downstream of LYST, ordering the lytic-granule exocytosis pathway.

    Evidence Overexpression rescue in patient-derived CHS CTLs with confocal and correlative light-electron microscopy

    PMID:25425525

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanistic link between LYST and SYTL3 not defined
    • Rescue relies on overexpression rather than endogenous restoration
  6. 2015 Medium

    A Rab27a-effector screen revealed SYTL3 is required for HIV-1 Gag membrane association, extending its role to viral assembly downstream of Rab27a.

    Evidence RNAi knockdown and Gag membrane association assay in CD4+ T cells

    PMID:25940347

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct role of SYTL3 in Gag trafficking versus indirect effect not separated
    • No reconstitution of the implicated transport step
  7. 2016 High

    Mast cell studies showed the Rab27b/Slp3/kinesin-1 complex assembles in a PI3K-dependent manner upon IgE signaling, defining a signaling input that licenses motor recruitment and degranulation in vivo.

    Evidence Kif5b conditional knockout mice, BMMC degranulation, anaphylaxis model, Co-IP and PI3K inhibition

    PMID:27810912

    Open questions at the time
    • Molecular target of PI3K signaling in complex assembly not identified
    • Direct contribution of endogenous SYTL3 loss-of-function not isolated
  8. 2020 Medium

    Knockdown and overexpression in bladder cancer cells established SYTL3 as a Rab27b effector mediating exocytosis of intracellular BCG, linking it to BCG therapy resistance.

    Evidence shRNA knockdown, overexpression, orthotopic xenograft and intracellular BCG quantification

    PMID:32737155

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism of bacterial cargo recognition unknown
    • Single lab and cancer cell context
  9. 2021 Medium

    Loss-of-function in human neurons and mouse cortex revealed SYTL3 restrains neuronal migration via matrix metalloproteinases and supports presynaptic release, extending its role beyond classical granule exocytosis.

    Evidence CRISPR knockout in hESC-derived neurons, in utero shRNA knockdown, brain organoids, MMP inhibitor and neurotransmitter release assays

    PMID:33657377

    Open questions at the time
    • Connection between Rab27/kinesin-1 trafficking role and MMP regulation unclear
    • Whether the C2/SHD domains mediate the migration phenotype untested
  10. 2022 Medium

    Pharmacological dissection in mast cells showed SYTL3 granule loading is independent of kinesin-1 motor recruitment, separating adaptor loading from motor engagement in the transport pathway.

    Evidence shRNA Kif5b knockdown, live imaging, granule fractionation and kinesore treatment

    PMID:35316306

    Open questions at the time
    • Single biochemical method for the Slp3-specific result
    • Signal that triggers motor recruitment to pre-loaded adaptor not identified

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • How the atypical C2A Ca2+/lipid-sensing module is integrated with Rab27/kinesin-1-driven transport to time and target granule fusion across cell types remains unresolved.
  • No structure of the SYTL3/Rab27/kinesin-1 complex
  • Ca2+ sensing not linked to a defined fusion or docking step in vivo
  • Mechanism connecting trafficking role to MMP-dependent neuronal migration unknown

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0008289 lipid binding 2 GO:0060090 molecular adaptor activity 2 GO:0140299 molecular sensor activity 1
Localization
GO:0005886 plasma membrane 2 GO:0031410 cytoplasmic vesicle 2
Pathway
R-HSA-168256 Immune System 2 R-HSA-5653656 Vesicle-mediated transport 2
Complex memberships
Rab27a/Slp3/kinesin-1 transport complexRab27b/Slp3/kinesin-1 transport complex

Evidence

Reading pass · 13 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
2001 SYTL3 (Slp3) was identified as a novel C-terminal-type tandem C2 protein (synaptotagmin-like protein family). Subcellular fractionation showed it is a peripheral membrane protein. The C2A domain of Slp3 showed Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding activity, making it a Ca2+-dependent isoform unlike Slp1 and Slp2. The C-terminus of Slp3 bound neurexin Iα in vitro. Subcellular fractionation, phospholipid binding experiments, in vitro binding assay Biochemical and biophysical research communications Medium 11243866
2001 Sequence alignment of Slp3-a with other Slp family members revealed two conserved N-terminal regions (SHD1 and SHD2, Slp homology domains) which may function as protein interaction sites. The SHD1 and SHD2 of Slp3-a are separated by a putative Zn2+-binding sequence. Two alternative splicing isoforms of Slp3 were identified: Slp3-a and Slp3-b, sharing the same C-terminal tandem C2 structures but differing in N-terminal sequences. Molecular cloning, sequence alignment, RT-PCR tissue distribution analysis Biochemical and biophysical research communications Low 11327731
2002 The C2A domain of Slp3 exhibits Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding activity. Unlike other C-type tandem C2 proteins requiring five conserved acidic residues in Ca2+-binding loops, the Slp3 C2A domain contains only one conserved acidic residue in loop 1. Site-directed mutagenesis identified Glu-336, Glu-337 in Ca2+-binding loop 1 and a polybasic sequence (Lys-359, Lys-360, Lys-361) in the β-4 strand as crucial for Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding, unlike the analogous region in synaptotagmin I C2A which is dispensable. In vitro Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding assay, site-directed mutagenesis, chimeric domain analysis The Biochemical journal High 12049610
2002 Expression of Slp3-a (which contains the N-terminal Rab27A-binding SHD domain), but not Slp3-b (lacking this domain), promotes neuropeptide Y (NPY) secretion in PC12 cells, indicating that Slp3-a controls regulated dense-core vesicle exocytosis via binding to Rab27A. This is in contrast to Slp4-a/granuphilin-a, which inhibits secretion. Overexpression in PC12 cells, NPY secretion assay, immunocytochemistry, subcellular fractionation The Journal of biological chemistry Medium 12176990
2001 Melanophilin (Mlph/leaden), a protein with homology to Rab effectors including Slp3-a, was identified as a critical component of the melanosome transport machinery, supporting the model that Slp3-a family members function as Rab effectors in vesicle transport. Mlph possesses two Zn2+-binding CX2CX13,14CX2C motifs and an aromatic-rich region critical for Rab binding, but unlike Slp3-a, lacks two Ca2+-binding C2 domains. Genetic mapping of leaden locus, sequence homology analysis, functional complementation studies in mice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Low 11504925
2012 Slp3 (SYTL3) functions as a Rab27a effector in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and interacts with kinesin-1 through the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain of kinesin-1 light chain. The Rab27a/Slp3/kinesin-1 transport complex mediates terminal transport and secretion of lytic granules to the immune synapse. Inhibition of this complex impairs lytic granule secretion. Co-immunoprecipitation, knockdown/inhibition studies, live-cell imaging, CTL killing assays Blood High 22308290
2015 Increasing expression of Slp3 in Chediak-Higashi syndrome (LYST-deficient) CTLs restored the dynamics and secretory ability of cytotoxic granules at the immunological synapse, placing Slp3 downstream of LYST in the lytic granule exocytosis pathway. Overexpression rescue in patient-derived CHS CTLs, confocal microscopy, correlative light-electron microscopy Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark) Medium 25425525
2015 Slp3 (SYTL3) is required for Rab27a-dependent association of HIV-1 Pr55(Gag) with the plasma membrane of CD4+ T cells. Screening of Rab27a effectors identified Slp2a, Slp3, and Slac2b as required for Pr55(Gag) membrane association, linking SYTL3 to HIV-1 assembly downstream of Rab27a. RNAi knockdown, confocal microscopy, Pr55(Gag) membrane association assay in CD4+ T cells The Journal of cell biology Medium 25940347
2016 In mast cells, Slp3 is the critical effector linking kinesin-1 to Rab27b-associated secretory granules. Kinesin-1 recruitment to the Slp3/Rab27b effector complex is independent of microtubule reorganization but requires PI3K activity upon IgE receptor stimulation. The PI3K-dependent formation of the kinesin-1/Slp3/Rab27b complex is critical for microtubule-dependent secretory granule movement required for mast cell degranulation and IgE-mediated anaphylaxis in vivo. Kif5b conditional knockout mice, bone marrow-derived mast cell degranulation assays, passive systemic anaphylaxis model, co-immunoprecipitation, pharmacological PI3K inhibition The Journal of cell biology High 27810912
2008 Slp3 (Slp1/Slp2-a) proteins localize predominantly to the plasma membrane of both human and mouse CTLs. In CTLs, Slp3-a expression was not detected (only Slp1 and Slp2-a were found), indicating cell-type-specific expression of Slp family members. RT-PCR screening, immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy, flow cytometry in human and mouse CTLs Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark) Low 18266782
2020 Knockdown of SYTL3 (or Rab27b) in bladder cancer cells increased intracellular BCG quantity and cytotoxicity, while overexpression of Rab27b reduced them. This indicates that SYTL3 functions as an effector of Rab27b to mediate exocytosis of BCG from urothelial cells, contributing to BCG therapy resistance. shRNA knockdown, overexpression, mouse orthotopic xenograft model, intracellular BCG quantification Molecular cancer therapeutics Medium 32737155
2021 SYTL3 knockout in human neurons (hESC-derived) or knockdown of Sytl3 in embryonic mouse cortex markedly promotes neuronal migration. SYTL3-KO caused abnormal distribution of deep-layer neurons in brain organoids and reduced presynaptic neurotransmitter release. SYTL3-KO-accelerated neuronal migration is modulated by high expression of matrix metalloproteinases. CRISPR knockout in hESC-derived neurons, in utero shRNA knockdown in mouse cortex, brain organoids, MMP inhibitor experiments, neurotransmitter release assay Cell reports Medium 33657377
2022 In mast cells, Slp3 (a cargo adaptor) recruitment to secretory granules was independent of kinesin-1 motor association: kinesore treatment (which activates kinesin-1) had no effect on Slp3 levels in a granule-enriched biochemical fraction, even though it inhibited granule transport and exocytosis. This dissociates granule-adaptor loading from motor recruitment. shRNA Kif5b knockdown, live-cell imaging, biochemical granule fractionation, kinesore pharmacological treatment PloS one Medium 35316306

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 41 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
1983 Plasmids, recombination and chromosome mapping in Streptomyces lividans 66. Journal of general microbiology 381 6631413
2001 Mutations in Mlph, encoding a member of the Rab effector family, cause the melanosome transport defects observed in leaden mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 210 11504925
2006 A stomatin-domain protein essential for touch sensation in the mouse. Nature 205 17167420
2012 Terminal transport of lytic granules to the immune synapse is mediated by the kinesin-1/Slp3/Rab27a complex. Blood 94 22308290
2001 Synaptotagmin-like protein 1-3: a novel family of C-terminal-type tandem C2 proteins. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 90 11243866
2013 The genome sequence of Streptomyces lividans 66 reveals a novel tRNA-dependent peptide biosynthetic system within a metal-related genomic island. Genome biology and evolution 86 23709624
2011 Loss of Bardet-Biedl syndrome protein-8 (BBS8) perturbs olfactory function, protein localization, and axon targeting. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 85 21646512
2008 Slp1 and Slp2-a localize to the plasma membrane of CTL and contribute to secretion from the immunological synapse. Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark) 78 18266782
2001 Novel splicing isoforms of synaptotagmin-like proteins 2 and 3: identification of the Slp homology domain. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 75 11327731
2002 Slp4-a/granuphilin-a regulates dense-core vesicle exocytosis in PC12 cells. The Journal of biological chemistry 71 12176990
2015 Rab27a controls HIV-1 assembly by regulating plasma membrane levels of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The Journal of cell biology 68 25940347
1992 Cloning and DNA sequence analysis of the mercury resistance genes of Streptomyces lividans. Molecular & general genetics : MGG 61 1494353
2015 LYST controls the biogenesis of the endosomal compartment required for secretory lysosome function. Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark) 59 25425525
2012 Genome-wide association identifies multiple genomic regions associated with susceptibility to and control of ovine lentivirus. PloS one 45 23082221
2002 Cloning and characterization of SLP3: a novel member of the stomatin family expressed by olfactory receptor neurons. Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO 39 12239636
2016 Kinesin-1 controls mast cell degranulation and anaphylaxis through PI3K-dependent recruitment to the granular Slp3/Rab27b complex. The Journal of cell biology 37 27810912
2008 Slipins: ancient origin, duplication and diversification of the stomatin protein family. BMC evolutionary biology 36 18267007
2019 Identification of hub genes and key pathways associated with the progression of gynecological cancer. Oncology letters 35 31788113
2017 Whole-Exome Sequencing Study of Thyrotropin-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 32 27854551
2002 The C2A domain of synaptotagmin-like protein 3 (Slp3) is an atypical calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding machine: comparison with the C2A domain of synaptotagmin I. The Biochemical journal 31 12049610
2020 Androgen Receptor Signaling Reduces the Efficacy of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Therapy for Bladder Cancer via Modulating Rab27b-Induced Exocytosis. Molecular cancer therapeutics 28 32737155
2012 Genetic determinants of the ankle-brachial index: a meta-analysis of a cardiovascular candidate gene 50K SNP panel in the candidate gene association resource (CARe) consortium. Atherosclerosis 22 22361517
2009 A single conserved proline residue determines the membrane topology of stomatin. The Biochemical journal 22 19032151
2023 Coordinated reprogramming of renal cancer transcriptome, metabolome and secretome associates with immune tumor infiltration. Cancer cell international 16 36604669
2020 SPT20 Regulates the Hog1-MAPK Pathway and Is Involved in Candida albicans Response to Hyperosmotic Stress. Frontiers in microbiology 15 32153525
2018 The Candida albicans stress response gene Stomatin-Like Protein 3 is implicated in ROS-induced apoptotic-like death of yeast phase cells. PloS one 14 29389961
2022 Mast cell granule motility and exocytosis is driven by dynamic microtubule formation and kinesin-1 motor function. PloS one 13 35316306
2016 Characterization of Three Different Unusual S-Layer Proteins from Viridibacillus arvi JG-B58 That Exhibits Two Super-Imposed S-Layer Proteins. PloS one 10 27285458
2021 Effect of SYTL3-SLC22A3 Variants, Their Haplotypes, and G × E Interactions on Serum Lipid Levels and the Risk of Coronary Artery Disease and Ischaemic Stroke. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine 9 34458338
2023 Cell Protection and Crystal Endocytosis Inhibition by Sulfated Laminaria Polysaccharides Against Nano-COM-Induced Oxidative Damage in Renal Epithelial Cells. ACS omega 8 36872978
2023 Identification of candidate genomic regions for egg yolk moisture content based on a genome-wide association study. BMC genomics 8 36918797
2021 Transcriptional networks identify synaptotagmin-like 3 as a regulator of cortical neuronal migration during early neurodevelopment. Cell reports 8 33657377
2020 The Search for Molecular Markers in a Gene-Orphan Case Study of a Pediatric Spinal Cord Pilocytic Astrocytoma. Cancer genomics & proteomics 8 32108034
2021 SYTL3-SLC22A3 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Gene-Gene/Environment Interactions on the Risk of Hyperlipidemia. Frontiers in genetics 7 34367243
2023 Identification of Neurotransmission and Synaptic Biological Processes Disrupted in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Interaction Networks and Community Detection Analysis. Biomedicines 5 38001974
2024 Mitochondrial targeting of Candida albicans SPFH proteins and requirement of stomatins for SDS-induced stress tolerance. Microbiology spectrum 3 39641539
2025 Assessment of gene signatures following the inhibition of IL-23: a study to evaluate the mechanistic effects behind the clinical efficacy of guselkumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Frontiers in immunology 1 40963613
2024 Different Degrees of Sulfated Laminaria Polysaccharides Recovered Damaged HK-2 Cells and Inhibited Adhesion of Nano-COM and Nano-COD Crystals. Bioinorganic chemistry and applications 1 38204734
2023 Genome-wide analysis of circRNA regulation during spleen development of Chinese indigenous breed Meishan pigs. BMC genomics 1 37612620
2026 Cuproptosis of endothelial cells in a hypoxic environment: from molecular classification to PMAIP1-targeted intervention. Hereditas 0 41857782
2026 Single-cell transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility atlas of peripheral blood mononuclear cells reveals immune cell heterogeneity and breed-specific characteristics in Duroc and Meishan pigs. BMC genomics 0 42032457

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