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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Using SecM Arrest Sequence as a Tool to Isolate Ribosome Bound Polypeptides
Published on: June 19, 2012
The riddle of the Sec1/Munc-18 proteins - new twists added to their interactions with SNAREs
Dieter Gallwitz1, Reinhard Jahn
1Department of Molecular Genetics, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg, 37070, Göttingen, Germany.
Abstract:
Sec1/Munc-18 (SM) proteins are essential for intracellular membrane fusion reactions. Most of them bind to membrane-associated soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion (NSF)-attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) of the syntaxin subfamily but it is unclear whether regulating syntaxins is their primary role. Recent studies now have shown that the mechanism of syntaxin binding is not conserved, even though the structures of both protein families are. Amazing as this might be for those considering the evolution of conserved folds, it leaves the question of how SM proteins operate in membrane fusion unanswered.
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