?
SNARE motif SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins consist of coiled-coil helices (called SNARE motifs) which mediate the interactions between SNARE proteins, and a transmembrane domain. The SNARE complex mediates membrane fusion, important for trafficking of newly synthesized proteins, recycling of pre-existing proteins and organelle formation. SNARE proteins are classified into four groups, Qa-, Qb-, Qc- and R-SNAREs, depending on whether the residue in the hydrophilic center layer of the four-helical bundle is a glutamine (Q) or arginine (R). Qa-, Qb- and Qc-SNAREs are localized to target organelle membranes, while R-SNARE is localized to vesicle membranes. They form unique complexes consisting of one member of each subgroup, that mediate fusion between a specific type of vesicles and their target organelle. Their SNARE motifs form twisted and parallel heterotetrameric helix bundles.
|