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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antigens, Surface / chemistry
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Antigens, Surface / metabolism*
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COS Cells
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Cell Fusion*
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Cell Membrane / metabolism*
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Chlorocebus aethiops
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Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
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Glycosylation
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Membrane Fusion / physiology
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Membrane Proteins / chemistry
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
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Mutation
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
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Protein Binding
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Protein Folding
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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R-SNARE Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
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Syntaxin 1
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Transfection
Substances
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Antigens, Surface
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Membrane Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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R-SNARE Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
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Syntaxin 1