veSNARE

veSNARE, short for vesicle SNARE, refers to a class of SNARE proteins located on transport vesicles (v-SNAREs) that mediate membrane fusion with recipient membranes. During vesicular trafficking, veSNAREs pair with complementary target-SNAREs (t-SNAREs) on the acceptor membrane to assemble a SNARE complex, typically comprising one v-SNARE and three t-SNARE helices. The complex pulls the two membranes into close apposition, enabling fusion. After fusion, the complex is disassembled by the action of NSF and α-SNAP, allowing the SNAREs to be recycled.

veSNAREs are typically integral membrane proteins with a transmembrane domain near the C-terminus. They are ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells and include well-studied neuronal synaptobrevin/VAMP proteins, as well as diverse vesicle SNAREs in yeast, plants, and other animals that coordinate secretion, endocytosis, and endomembrane traffic. Regulation occurs through SM proteins (such as the Munc18 family) that chaperone SNARE assembly, and calcium sensors like synaptotagmins that couple fusion to Ca2+ signals in fast exocytosis. The proper function of veSNAREs is essential for neurotransmitter release, hormone secretion, and various organelle fusion events; defects or dysregulation can contribute to neurological disorders, immune dysfunction, and impaired development.

Evolutionarily, veSNAREs form gene families that diversify to support cell-type-specific trafficking pathways, reflecting adaptation to the needs of different eukaryotic lineages.