Most if not all vesicular membrane fusion events in eukaryotic cells are believed to be mediated by a conserved fusion machinery, the SNARE [soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein (SNAP) receptors] machinery. The SNARE dom ...
Most if not all vesicular membrane fusion events in eukaryotic cells are believed to be mediated by a conserved fusion machinery, the SNARE [soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein (SNAP) receptors] machinery. The SNARE domain is thought to act as a protein-protein interaction module in the assembly of a SNARE protein complex. It is composed of about 70 amino acids arranged in an alpha-helical structure [1].
Syntaxins are the prototype family of SNARE proteins. They usually consist of three main regions - a C-terminal transmembrane region, a central SNARE domain which is characteristic of and conserved in all syntaxins (Pfam:PF05739), and an N-terminal d ...
Syntaxins are the prototype family of SNARE proteins. They usually consist of three main regions - a C-terminal transmembrane region, a central SNARE domain which is characteristic of and conserved in all syntaxins (Pfam:PF05739), and an N-terminal domain that is featured in this entry. This domain varies between syntaxin isoforms; in syntaxin 1A (Swiss:O35526) it is found as three alpha-helices with a left-handed twist. It may fold back on the SNARE domain to allow the molecule to adopt a 'closed' configuration that prevents formation of the core fusion complex - it thus has an auto-inhibitory role. The function of syntaxins is determined by their localisation. They are involved in neuronal exocytosis, ER-Golgi transport and Golgi-endosome transport, for example. They also interact with other proteins as well as those involved in SNARE complexes. These include vesicle coat proteins, Rab GTPases, and tethering factors [6].
