SNARES and NSF in targeted membrane fusion

Jesse C. Hay, Richard H. Scheller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

255 Scopus citations

Abstract

A major current issue in vesicle trafficking is whether NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) and α-SNAP (α-soluble NSF attachment protein) are required prior to SNARE (SNAP receptor) complex formation to allow vesicle docking, or after docking at a step close to membrane fusion. Recent studies of yeast vacuolar fusion indicated that the requirement for ATP, NSF and α-SNAP could be completely satisfied prior to SNARE docking complex assembly; however, the universality of a predocking role for these factors remains to be established. The vacuolar fusion system has also been used to directly demonstrate a requirement for SNARE proteins on both fusing membranes, verifying a central postulate of current fusion models.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)505-512
Number of pages8
JournalCurrent Opinion in Cell Biology
Volume9
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1997

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