Characterization of two distinct binding modes between syntaxin 4 and Munc18c

Veronica Aran, Fiona M. Brandie, Alasdair R. Boyd, Theodoros Kantidakis, Elizabeth J. Rideout, Sharon M. Kelly, Gwyn W. Gould, Nia J. Bryant*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Interaction of SM(Sec1/Munc18) proteins with their cognate syntaxins represents an important regulatory mechanism of SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein-attachment protein receptor)-mediated membrane fusion. Understanding the conserved mechanisms by which SM proteins function in this process has proved challenging, largely due to an apparent lack of conservation of binding mechanisms between different SM-syntaxin pairs. In the present study, we have identified a hitherto uncharacterized mode of binding between syntaxin 4 and Munc18c that is independent of the binding mode shown previously to utilize the N-terminal peptide of syntaxin 4. Our data demonstrate that syntaxin 4 and Munc18c interact via two distinct modes of binding, analogous to those employed by syntaxin 1a-Munc18a and syntaxin 16-Vps45p (vacuolar protein sorting 45). These data support the notion that all syntaxin/SM proteins bind using conserved mechanisms, and pave the way for the formulation of unifying hypotheses of SM protein function.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)655-660
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical Journal
Volume419
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2009

Keywords

  • Membrane fusion
  • Munc18c
  • Sec1/Munc18 protein (SM protein)
  • Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein-attachment protein receptor (SNARE)
  • Syntaxin 4
  • Vacuolar protein sorting 45 (Vps45p)

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