Single-molecule studies of the neuronal SNARE fusion machinery.
Annu Rev Biochem
; 78: 903-28, 2009.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19489736
ABSTRACT
SNAREs are essential components of the machinery for Ca(2+)-triggered fusion of synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane, resulting in neurotransmitter release into the synaptic cleft. Although much is known about their biophysical and structural properties and their interactions with accessory proteins such as the Ca(2+) sensor synaptotagmin, their precise role in membrane fusion remains an enigma. Ensemble studies of liposomes with reconstituted SNAREs have demonstrated that SNAREs and accessory proteins can trigger lipid mixing/fusion, but the inability to study individual fusion events has precluded molecular insights into the fusion process. Thus, this field is ripe for studies with single-molecule methodology. In this review, we discuss applications of single-molecule approaches to observe reconstituted SNAREs, their complexes, associated proteins, and their effect on biological membranes. Some of the findings are provocative, such as the possibility of parallel and antiparallel SNARE complexes or of vesicle docking with only syntaxin and synaptobrevin, but have been confirmed by other experiments.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Análise Espectral
/
Proteínas SNARE
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Neurônios
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Annu Rev Biochem
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos