The process of vesicular fusion with target membranes depends on a set of SNAREs (SNAP-Receptors), which are associated with the fusing membranes [ PUBMED:9239749 PUBMED:9232812 ]. These proteins are classified as v-SNAREs and t-SNAREs based … expand

The process of vesicular fusion with target membranes depends on a set of SNAREs (SNAP-Receptors), which are associated with the fusing membranes [ PUBMED:9239749 PUBMED:9232812 ]. These proteins are classified as v-SNAREs and t-SNAREs based on their localisation on vesicle or target membrane while another classification scheme defines R-SNAREs and Q-SNAREs, as based on the conserved arginine or glutamine residue in the centre of the SNARE motif [ PUBMED:9861047 ]. Target SNAREs (t-SNAREs) are localised on the target membrane and belong to two different families, the syntaxin-like family and the SNAP-25 like family. One member of each family, together with a v-SNARE localised on the vesicular membrane, are required for fusion.

The N- and C-terminal coiled-coil domains of members of the SNAP-25 family and the most C-terminal coiled-coil domain of the syntaxin family are related to each other and form a new homology domain of approximately 60 amino acids. This domain is also found in other known proteins involved in vesicular membrane traffic, some of which belong to different protein families [ PUBMED:9096343 ].