title: The riddle of the Sec1/Munc-18 proteins - new twists added to their interactions with SNAREs.
abstract: Sec1/Munc-18 (SM) proteins are essential for intracellular membrane fusion reactions. Most of them bind to membrane-associated soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion (NSF)-attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) of the syntaxin subfamily but it is unclear whether regulating syntaxins is their primary role. Recent studies now have shown that the mechanism of syntaxin binding is not conserved, even though the structures of both protein families are. Amazing as this might be for those considering the evolution of conserved folds, it leaves the question of how SM proteins operate in membrane fusion unanswered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg, 37070, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallwitz
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051938:Munc18 Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D050765:Qa-SNARE Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051938:Munc18 Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050765:Qa-SNARE Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins