The vesicular monoamine transporter acts to accumulate cytosolic monoamines into synaptic vesicles, using the proton gradient maintained across the synaptic vesicular membrane. Its proper function is essential to the correct activity of the monoaminergic systems that have been implicated in several human neuropsychiatric disorders. The transporter is a site of action of important drugs, including reserpine and tetrabenazine (summary by Peter et al., 1993 [PubMed 7905859]). See also SLC18A1 (MIM 193002).[supplied by OMIM, Jan 2011].