8775108124ENSG00000105402ENSMUSG00000006024P54920Q9DB05NM_003827NM_025898NP_003818NP_080174N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor Attachment Protein Alpha, also known as SNAP-α, is a SNAP protein that is involved in the intra-cellular trafficking and fusing of vesicles to target membranes in cells.

[5] The 'SNARE hypothesis' is a model explaining the process of docking and fusion of vesicles to their target membranes.

According to this model, membrane proteins from the vesicle (v-SNAREs) and proteins from the target membrane (t-SNAREs) govern the specificity of vesicle targeting and docking through mutual recognition.

Alpha- and gamma-SNAP are found in a wide range of tissues and act synergistically in intra-Golgi transport.

[citation needed] NAPA is abnormally expressed in fetuses of both IVF and ICSI, which may contribute to the increased risk of birth defects in these methods of assisted reproductive technology (ART).