SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins consist of coiled-coil helices (called SNARE motifs) which mediate the interactions between SNARE proteins, and a transmembrane domain. The SNARE complex mediates membrane fusion, important for trafficking of newly synthesized proteins, recycling of pre-existing proteins and organelle formation. SNARE proteins are classified into four groups, Qa-, Qb-, Qc- and R-SNAREs, depending on whether the residue in the hydrophilic center layer of the four-helical bundle is a glutamine (Q) or arginine (R). Qa-, as well as Qb- and Qc-SNAREs, are localized to target organelle membranes, while R-SNARE is localized to vesicle membranes. They form unique complexes consisting of one member of each subgroup, that mediate fusion between a specific type of vesicles and their target organelle. Their SNARE motifs form twisted and parallel heterotetrameric helix bundles. This subgroup of the Qa SNAREs includes syntaxin 1, syntaxin 11, syntaxin 19, syntaxin 2, syntaxin 3, syntaxin 4 and related proteins.
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