scholarly journals Structural Roles for the Juxtamembrane Linker Region and Transmembrane Region of Synaptobrevin 2 in Membrane Fusion

Author(s):  
Yaru Hu ◽  
Le Zhu ◽  
Cong Ma

Formation of the trans-SNARE complex is believed to generate a force transfer to the membranes to promote membrane fusion, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we show that helix-breaking and/or length-increasing insertions in the juxtamembrane linker region of synaptobrevin-2 exert diverse effects on liposome fusion, in a manner dependent on the insertion position relative to the two conserved tryptophan residues (W89/W90). Helical extension of synaptobrevin-2 to W89/W90 is a prerequisite for initiating membrane merger. The transmembrane region of synaptobrevin-2 enables proper localization of W89/W90 at the membrane interface to gate force transfer. Besides, our data indicate that the SNARE regulatory components Munc18-1 and Munc13-1 impose liposome fusion strong demand on tight coupling between the SNARE motif and the transmembrane region of synaptobrevin-2.

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 776-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Barszczewski ◽  
John J. Chua ◽  
Alexander Stein ◽  
Ulrike Winter ◽  
Rainer Heintzmann ◽  
...  

Regulated exocytosis in neurons and neuroendocrine cells requires the formation of a stable soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex consisting of synaptobrevin-2/vesicle-associated membrane protein 2, synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25), and syntaxin 1. This complex is subsequently disassembled by the concerted action of α-SNAP and the ATPases associated with different cellular activities-ATPase N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF). We report that NSF inhibition causes accumulation of α-SNAP in clusters on plasma membranes. Clustering is mediated by the binding of α-SNAP to uncomplexed syntaxin, because cleavage of syntaxin with botulinum neurotoxin C1 or competition by using antibodies against syntaxin SNARE motif abolishes clustering. Binding of α-SNAP potently inhibits Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of secretory granules and SNARE-mediated liposome fusion. Membrane clustering and inhibition of both exocytosis and liposome fusion are counteracted by NSF but not when an α-SNAP mutant defective in NSF activation is used. We conclude that α-SNAP inhibits exocytosis by binding to the syntaxin SNARE motif and in turn prevents SNARE assembly, revealing an unexpected site of action for α-SNAP in the SNARE cycle that drives exocytotic membrane fusion.


eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shen Wang ◽  
Yun Li ◽  
Cong Ma

Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) acts as a Ca2+ sensor for neurotransmitter release through its C2 domains. It has been proposed that Syt1 promotes SNARE-dependent fusion mainly through its C2B domain, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we show that the C2B domain interacts simultaneously with acidic membranes and SNARE complexes via the top Ca2+-binding loops, the side polybasic patch, and the bottom face in response to Ca2+. Disruption of the simultaneous interactions completely abrogates the triggering activity of the C2B domain in liposome fusion. We hypothesize that the simultaneous interactions endow the C2B domain with an ability to deform local membranes, and this membrane-deformation activity might underlie the functional significance of the Syt1 C2B domain in vivo.


2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2037-2046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabrez J. Siddiqui ◽  
Olga Vites ◽  
Alexander Stein ◽  
Rainer Heintzmann ◽  
Reinhard Jahn ◽  
...  

Neuronal exocytosis is driven by the formation of SNARE complexes between synaptobrevin 2 on synaptic vesicles and SNAP-25/syntaxin 1 on the plasma membrane. It has remained controversial, however, whether SNAREs are constitutively active or whether they are down-regulated until fusion is triggered. We now show that synaptobrevin in proteoliposomes as well as in purified synaptic vesicles is constitutively active. Potential regulators such as calmodulin or synaptophysin do not affect SNARE activity. Substitution or deletion of residues in the linker connecting the SNARE motif and transmembrane region did not alter the kinetics of SNARE complex assembly or of SNARE-mediated fusion of liposomes. Remarkably, deletion of C-terminal residues of the SNARE motif strongly reduced fusion activity, although the overall stability of the complexes was not affected. We conclude that although complete zippering of the SNARE complex is essential for membrane fusion, the structure of the adjacent linker domain is less critical, suggesting that complete SNARE complex assembly not only connects membranes but also drives fusion.


2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 5422-5434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis L. Rodkey ◽  
Song Liu ◽  
Meagan Barry ◽  
James A. McNew

Munc18a is an SM protein required for SNARE-mediated fusion. The molecular details of how Munc18a acts to enhance neurosecretion have remained elusive. Here, we use in vitro fusion assays to characterize how specific interactions between Munc18a and the neuronal SNAREs enhance the rate and extent of fusion. We show that Munc18a interacts directly and functionally with the preassembled t-SNARE complex. Analysis of Munc18a point mutations indicates that Munc18a interacts with helix C of the Syntaxin1a NRD in the t-SNARE complex. Replacement of the t-SNARE SNAP25b with yeast Sec9c had little effect, suggesting that Munc18a has minimal contact with SNAP25b within the t-SNARE complex. A chimeric Syntaxin built of the Syntaxin1a NRD and the H3 domain of yeast Sso1p and paired with Sec9c eliminated stimulation of fusion, suggesting that Munc18a/Syntaxin1a H3 domain contacts are important. Additionally, a Syntaxin1A mutant lacking a flexible linker region that allows NRD movement abolished stimulation of fusion. These experiments suggest that Munc18a binds to the Syntaxin1a NRD and H3 domain within the assembled t-SNARE complex, positioning them for productive VAMP2 binding. In this capacity, Munc18a serves as a platform for trans-SNARE complex assembly that facilitates efficient SNARE-mediated membrane fusion.


2005 ◽  
Vol 280 (16) ◽  
pp. 15595-15600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinghui Zhang ◽  
Zengliu Su ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Yong Chen ◽  
Yeon-Kyun Shin

The SNARE complex acts centrally for intracellular membrane fusion, an essential process for vesicular transport in cells. Association between vesicle-associated (v-) SNARE and target membrane (t-) SNARE results in the coiled coil core that bridges two membranes. Here, the structure of the SNARE complex assembled by recombinant t-SNARE Sso1p/Sec9 and v-SNARE Snc2p, which are involved in post-Golgi trafficking in yeast, was investigated using EPR. In detergent solutions, SNAREs formed a fully assembled core. However, when t-SNAREs were reconstituted into the proteoliposome and mixed with the soluble SNARE motif of Snc2p, a partially zipped core in which the N-terminal region is structured, whereas the C-terminal region is frayed, was detected. The partially zipped and fully assembled complexes coexisted with little free energy difference between them. Thus, the core complex formation of yeast SNAREs might not serve as the energy source for the fusion, which is different from what has been known for neuronal SNAREs. On the other hand, the results from the proteoliposome fusion assay, employing cysteine- and nitroxide-scanning mutants of Sso1p, suggested that the formation of the complete core is required for membrane fusion. This implies that core SNARE assembly plays an essential role in setting up the proper geometry of the lipid-protein complex for the successful fusion.


2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris MacDonald ◽  
Mary Munson ◽  
Nia J. Bryant

Regulation and specificity of membrane trafficking are required to maintain organelle integrity while performing essential cellular transport. Membrane fusion events in all eukaryotic cells are facilitated by the formation of specific SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion proteinattachment protein receptor) complexes between proteins on opposing lipid bilayers. Although regulation of SNARE complex assembly is not well understood, it is clear that two conserved protein families, the Sx (syntaxin) and the SM (Sec1p/Munc18) proteins, are central to this process. Sxs are a subfamily of SNARE proteins; in addition to the coiled-coil SNARE motif, Sxs possess an N-terminal, autonomously folded, triple-helical (Habc) domain. For some Sxs, it has been demonstrated that this Habc domain exerts an autoinhibitory effect on SNARE complex assembly by making intramolecular contacts with the SNARE motif. SM proteins regulate membrane fusion through interactions with their cognate Sxs. One hypothesis for SM protein function is that they facilitate a switch of the Sx from a closed to an open conformation, thus lifting the inhibitory action of the Habc domain and freeing the SNARE motif to participate in SNARE complexes. However, whether these regulatory mechanisms are conserved throughout the Sx/SM protein families remains contentious as it is not clear whether the closed conformation represents a universal feature of Sxs.


2011 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 185a
Author(s):  
Jiajie Diao ◽  
Janghyun Yoo ◽  
Han-Ki Lee ◽  
Yoosoo Yang ◽  
Dae-Hyuk Kweon ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 167 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenton L. Scott ◽  
Jeffrey S. Van Komen ◽  
Hassan Irshad ◽  
Song Liu ◽  
Kirilee A. Wilson ◽  
...  

Sec1 proteins are critical players in membrane trafficking, yet their precise role remains unknown. We have examined the role of Sec1p in the regulation of post-Golgi secretion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Indirect immunofluorescence shows that endogenous Sec1p is found primarily at the bud neck in newly budded cells and in patches broadly distributed within the plasma membrane in unbudded cells. Recombinant Sec1p binds strongly to the t-SNARE complex (Sso1p/Sec9c) as well as to the fully assembled ternary SNARE complex (Sso1p/Sec9c;Snc2p), but also binds weakly to free Sso1p. We used recombinant Sec1p to test Sec1p function using a well-characterized SNARE-mediated membrane fusion assay. The addition of Sec1p to a traditional in vitro fusion assay moderately stimulates fusion; however, when Sec1p is allowed to bind to SNAREs before reconstitution, significantly more Sec1p binding is detected and fusion is stimulated in a concentration-dependent manner. These data strongly argue that Sec1p directly stimulates SNARE-mediated membrane fusion.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 125 (10) ◽  
pp. 1566-1577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waldo A. Spessott ◽  
Maria L. Sanmillan ◽  
Margaret E. McCormick ◽  
Nishant Patel ◽  
Joyce Villanueva ◽  
...  

Key Points Monoallelic STXBP2 mutations affecting codon 65 impair lymphocyte cytotoxicity and contribute to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Munc18-2R65Q/W mutant proteins function in a dominant-negative manner to impair membrane fusion and arrest SNARE-complex assembly.


eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Nogueira ◽  
Patrik Erlmann ◽  
Julien Villeneuve ◽  
António JM Santos ◽  
Emma Martínez-Alonso ◽  
...  

TANGO1 binds and exports Procollagen VII from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this study, we report a connection between the cytoplasmic domain of TANGO1 and SLY1, a protein that is required for membrane fusion. Knockdown of SLY1 by siRNA arrested Procollagen VII in the ER without affecting the recruitment of COPII components, general protein secretion, and retrograde transport of the KDEL-containing protein BIP, and ERGIC53. SLY1 is known to interact with the ER-specific SNARE proteins Syntaxin 17 and 18, however only Syntaxin 18 was required for Procollagen VII export. Neither SLY1 nor Syntaxin 18 was required for the export of the equally bulky Procollagen I from the ER. Altogether, these findings reveal the sorting of bulky collagen family members by TANGO1 at the ER and highlight the existence of different export pathways for secretory cargoes one of which is mediated by the specific SNARE complex containing SLY1 and Syntaxin 18.


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