title: Fusion of cells by flipped SNAREs.
abstract: The SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) hypothesis suggests that pairs of proteins known as vesicle (v-) SNAREs and target membrane (t-) SNAREs interact specifically to control and mediate intracellular membrane fusion events. Here, cells expressing the interacting domains of v- and t-SNAREs on the cell surface were found to fuse spontaneously, demonstrating that SNAREs are sufficient to fuse biological membranes.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Biochemistry and Biophysics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, Box 251, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Mahiuddin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Melia
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Söllner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rothman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019556:COS Cells; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D006031:Glycosylation; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D050683:R-SNARE Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25; D050827:Syntaxin 1; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050683:R-SNARE Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25; D050827:Syntaxin 1