Mints (also referred to as X11-like proteins) are adaptor-proteins that consist of divergent N-terminal sequences and conserved C-terminal PTB and PDZ domains.
Three isoforms (Mint 1, 2 and 3) have been described. Mint 1 exclusively binds to the synaptic protein CASK via its N-terminal sequence. Munc18-1 has been shown to be an interaction partner of Mint 1 and 2. The more C-terminal located PTB and PDZ domains present in all Mint isoforms bind to widely distributed proteins like APP, presenilins and Ca2+ channels.
A Mint 1 knock out had no obvious effect on brain achitecture and development, nor was synaptic plasticity in excitatory synapses affected. In inhibitory synapses of knock out strains the release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was impaired.