SNARE proteins mediate most membrane fusion reactions in eukaryotic cells, and are thereby vital for many functions, including synaptic transmission, cell growth, and cytokinesis. However, until recently it was still unclear how many of these proteins are required to catalyze membrane fusion in vivo. In a recent Science paper, Mohrmann et al. (2010) elegantly show that in chromaffin cells, thre...

Sec1/Munc18 (SM) family proteins are essential for every vesicle fusion pathway. The best-characterized SM protein is the synaptic factor Munc18-1, but it remains unclear whether its functions represent conserved mechanisms of SM proteins or specialized activities in neurotransmitter release. To address this question, we dissected Munc18c, a functionally distinct SM protein involved in nonsynap...

SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) on transport vesicles and target membranes are crucial for vesicle targeting and fusion. They form SNARE complexes, which contain four α-helical SNARE motifs contributed by three or four different SNAREs. Most SNAREs function only in a single transport step. The yeast SNARE Vti1p participates in four distinct SNARE c...

Lead extraction remains a challenging procedure with significant success. Owing to the increasing use of cardiac implantable electronic devices, there is a growing need for effective techniques management, to avoid the occurrence of device-related complications and lead dysfunction. We made a comparison of Evolution sheath and Needles Eye Snare sheath (abbreviated to Snare sheath) by analyzed t...

Membrane fusion is a central cellular process in eukaryotic cells. In the secretory pathway connecting organelles between the endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane, fusion is mediated by sets of SNARE proteins ( soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment r eceptor). 1 Complementary sets of SNARE proteins are associated with the respective membranes. Upon contact, the SNAREs fo...

a 59 year old man is presented with adenocarcinoma of the stomach. in order to evaluate for the presence of the non-lifting sign, methylene blue was injected 2 mm from the perimeter of the tumor. since the tumor lifted, snare removal of the tumor was done, safely. partial gastrectomy was performed 2 weeks after endoscopic removal of the tumor which revealed no residual tumor or lymph node metas...

Recent studies suggest revisions to the SNARE paradigm of membrane fusion. Membrane tethers and/or SNAREs recruit proteins of the Sec 1/Munc18 family to catalyze SNARE assembly into trans-complexes. SNARE-domain zippering draws the bilayers into immediate apposition and provides a platform to position fusion triggers such as Sec 17/α-SNAP and/or synaptotagmin, which insert their apolar "wedge" ...

the vesicle expresses a specific membrane protein Department of Neurobiology (v-SNARE) that binds to a cognate receptor on the target Howard Hughes Medical Institute membrane (t-SNARE). For synaptic vesicle exocytosis, Massachusetts General Hospital the v-SNARE VAMP/synaptobrevin, an integral mem-and Harvard Medical School brane protein of the synaptic vesicle, interacts with the Boston, Massac...