SNAREpins: minimal machinery for membrane fusion.
Recombinant v- and t-SNARE proteins reconstituted into separate lipid bilayer vesicles assemble into SNAREpins-SNARE complexes linking two membranes. This leads to spontaneous fusion of the docked membranes at physiological temperature. Docked unfused intermediates can accumulate at lower temperatures and can fuse when brought to physiological temperature. A supply of unassembled v- and t-SNAREs is needed for these intermediates to form, but not for the fusion that follows. These data imply that SNAREpins are the minimal machinery for cellular membrane fusion.
Weber
T
T
Cellular Biochemistry and Biophysics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Zemelman
B V
BV
McNew
J A
JA
Westermann
B
B
Gmachl
M
M
Parlati
F
F
Söllner
T H
TH
Rothman
J E
JE
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins