The tethering complex HOPS catalyzes assembly of the soluble SNARE Vam7 into fusogenic trans-SNARE complexes.

ABSTRACT: The fusion of yeast vacuolar membranes depends on the disassembly of cis-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes and the subsequent reassembly of new SNARE complexes in trans. The disassembly of cis-SNARE complexes by Sec17/Sec18p releases the soluble SNARE Vam7p from vacuolar membranes. Consequently, Vam7p needs to be recruited to the membrane at future sites of fusion to allow the formation of trans-SNARE complexes. The multisubunit tethering homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting (HOPS) complex, which is essential for the fusion of vacuolar membranes, was previously shown to have direct affinity for Vam7p. The functional significance of this interaction, however, has been unclear. Using a fully reconstituted in vitro fusion reaction,

SUBMITTER: Zick M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3843000 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature