Fusion of Cells by Flipped SNAREs
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:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- June 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1084909
- Bibcode:
- 2003Sci...300.1745H
- Keywords:
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- CELL BIOL