Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy of the assembly and disassembly of SNAREs: The proteins involved in membrane fusion in cells.
In this study, we report for the first time that both t-SNAREs and v-SNARE and their complexes in buffered suspension, exhibit defined peaks at CD signals of 208 and 222 nm wavelengths, consistent with a higher degree of helical secondary structure. Surprisingly, when incorporated in lipid membrane, both SNAREs and their complexes exhibit reduced folding. In presence of NSF-ATP, the SNARE complex disassembles, as reflected from the CD signals demonstrating elimination of α-helices within the structure.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield, 5245 Scott Hall, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
Jeremy D
JD
Cook
Won Jin
WJ
Cho
Timothy L
TL
Stemmler
Bhanu P
BP
Jena