SNAP-8 (Acetyl Glutamyl Heptapeptide-3, also Acetyl Octapeptide-3) is a synthetic octapeptide analogue of the N-terminal fragment of SNAP-25 — a key SNARE protein involved in synaptic vesicle fusion and acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. By competitively inhibiting SNARE complex formation, SNAP-8 provides a research tool for studying acetylcholine-mediated muscle contraction and neuromuscular signalling modulation.
CAS 868844-74-0 | MW 966.1 Da | Acetyl-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH₂Competitive inhibitor of SNAP-25 incorporation into SNARE complex, reducing synaptic vesicle docking efficiency at the NMJ.
SNARE inhibition reduces acetylcholine exocytosis, attenuating NMJ signal transmission — measurable via electrophysiological endpoints.
Reduced ACh signalling translates to attenuated muscle contraction amplitude — studied in facial expression muscle biology.
SNAP-8 is studied as a mechanistic control compound against BoNT-A in SNARE pathway research — same target, different selectivity.
Blanes-Mira et al. established SNAP-8 as a functional analogue of the SNAP-25 N-terminal fragment that competes with endogenous SNAP-25 for SNARE complex assembly, reducing neurotransmitter release in cell-free and cell-based assays.
Int J Cosmet Sci. 2002;24(5):303–310In vitro NMJ models show SNAP-8 reduces ACh-evoked post-synaptic potentials in a dose-dependent manner, confirming SNARE inhibition as mechanism.
J Neurosci Methods. 2008;174(1):82–88SNAP-8 reduces muscle contraction-induced wrinkle formation in in vivo research models, studied as a mechanistic tool for expression-line biology.
Int J Cosmet Sci. 2009;31(3):193–201In vitro SNARE assay: 10–500 µM SNAP-8 peptide. NMJ culture models: 50–200 µM. In vivo skin research: 50–500 µg/mL topical application or 10–100 µg intradermal injection per research site. Endpoints: SNARE complex pull-down assay, ACh quantification (Amplex Red), electromyography, and muscle contraction amplitude.
| Full Name | SNAP-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3) |
| CAS Number | 868844-74-0 |
| Molecular Formula | C₃₇H₆₈N₁₄O₁₅S |
| Molecular Weight | 966.1 Da |
| Target | SNAP-25 / SNARE complex |
| Purity | ≥99% by HPLC |
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder |
| Storage | −20°C, desiccated |
