SNARE Protein Domain

The mechanism by which a vesicle fuses with a specific membrane target appears to involve a highly conserved set of proteins called SNAREs (Soluble NSF Attachment protein [SNAP] Receptors). SNARE proteins are thought to mediate most or possibly all cellular membrane fusion events. Most SNAREs are C-terminally anchored integral membrane proteins capable of entering into a coiled-coil interaction with other SNARE proteins. The SNARE domain is a homologous domain of approximately 60 amino acids common to all SNARE proteins. The SNARE domain acts as a protein-protein interaction module in the assembly of a SNARE protein complex. The largely unstructured, monomeric SNARE motifs assemble into a protease resistant core complex. Different SNARE family members are distributed on distinct membranes throughout the cell, suggesting they may play a role in targeting during vesicular transport. However, the formation of SNARE core complexes appears to be rather promiscuous with little specificity.