SNARE proteins and the interaction with the microorganisms

SNARE proteins are a large protein superfamily consisting of more than 60 members in yeast and mammalian cells. The primary role of SNARE proteins is to mediate vesicle fusion, that is, the exocytosis of cellular transport vesicles with the cell membrane or with a target compartment. SNAREs can be divided into two categories: vesicle or v-SNAREs , which are incorporated into the membranes of transport vesicles, and target or t-SNAREs, which are located in the membranes of target compartments. Vesicular SNAREs (v-SNAREs) interact with their target SNAREs (t-SNAREs) to form SNARE complexes which mediate membrane fusion. The best-studied SNAREs are those that mediate docking of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. These SNAREs are the targets of the bacterial neurotoxins responsible for botulism and tetanus.