Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

SNAREs and Membrane Fusion

SNAREs and Membrane Fusion

Once a transport vesicle has recognized its target organelle, the vesicular membrane needs to fuse with the target membrane to unload the cargo. Transmembrane proteins called SNAREs present on organelle membranes and their vesicles, mediate vesicle fusion.
SNAREs exist in pairs that symmetrically interact and catalyze the fusion of the lipid bilayers in vesicle and target organelle. v-SNARE in the vesicle membrane are single polypeptide chains that bind to a complementary t-SNARE, composed of 2...

Molecular Shapes

Molecular Shapes

Molecules have characteristic shapes that are crucial for their function. The arrangement of various electron groups around the central atom dictates their molecular geometry. Electron pairs in the valence shell of a central atom will adopt an arrangement that minimizes repulsions between the electron pairs by maximizing the distance between them. The valence electrons form either bonding pairs, located primarily between bonded atoms, or lone pairs.Two regions of electron density in a diatomic...

Molecular Orbital Theory I

Molecular Orbital Theory I

Overview of Molecular Orbital Theory

Molecular Orbital Theory II

Molecular Orbital Theory II

Molecular Orbital Energy Diagrams

SN2 Reaction: Mechanism

S_N2 Reaction: Mechanism

The kinetic studies of SN2 reactions suggest an essential feature of its mechanism: it is a single-step process without intermediates. Here, both the nucleophile and the substrate participate in the rate-determining step.
The presence of the more electronegative halogen in the substrate creates a polarized carbon-halide bond. The halide pulls the electron cloud generating an electrophilic center at the carbon atom. Thus, the carbon atom carries a partial positive charge while the halide has a...

VSEPR Theory

VSEPR Theory

Valence shell electron-pair repulsion theory (VSEPR theory) enables us to predict the molecular structure around a central atom from an examination of the number of bonds and lone electron pairs in its Lewis structure. The VSEPR model assumes that electron pairs in the valence shell of a central atom will adopt an arrangement that minimizes repulsions between these electron pairs by maximizing the distance between them. The electrons in the valence shell of a central atom form either bonding...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Congratulations, JNC Turns 70!

Journal of neurochemistry·2026

Same author

Neuroscience in China: Domestic and Foreign Experts Working Together.

Journal of neurochemistry·2026

Same author

Astrocytic H3 receptors regulate anxiety through GABA signaling.

Neuron·2026

Same author

Age-Dependent Regulation of Acetylcholine Release at the Neuromuscular Junction Mediated by GABA.

Cells·2025

Same author

Second harmonic generation for brain imaging: pathology-related studies.

Biophysical reviews·2025

Same author

Subicular Astrocytes Govern Seizure-Impaired Fear Memory.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation

DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation

Published on: December 29, 2021

Molecular form follows function: (un)snaring the SNAREs.

Vladimir Parpura¹, U Mohideen

¹Department of Neurobiology, Civitan International Research Center, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Atomic Force Microscopy and Nanotechnology Laboratories, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. vlad@uab.edu

Trends in Neurosciences

|August 5, 2008

Summary

Single-molecule techniques reveal complex SNARE protein interactions, suggesting multiple operational modes in vesicle exocytosis. These advanced methods offer new insights into SNARE proteins and their crucial role in neurotransmitter release.

More Related Videos

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Published on: December 29, 2017

Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

Published on: October 19, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation

DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation

Published on: December 29, 2021

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Published on: December 29, 2017

Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

Analysis of SNARE-mediated Membrane Fusion Using an Enzymatic Cell Fusion Assay

Published on: October 19, 2012

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Cellular Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Exocytotic release of neurotransmitters relies on the SNARE complex.
The SNARE complex facilitates vesicle positioning and fusion with the plasma membrane.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the complexity of SNARE complex function using single-molecule techniques.
To investigate potential alternative SNARE complex formations in vesicular docking.

Main Methods:

Utilizing single-molecule techniques to measure SNARE protein interactions.
Directly measuring distance/extension, rupture force, dissociation times, and interaction energy.

Main Results:

Identified potential roles for binary syntaxin-synaptobrevin 2 complexes in vesicular docking.
Demonstrated that single-molecule techniques provide complementary data to other methods.

Conclusions:

Single-molecule techniques offer new dimensions to understanding SNARE protein function.
These methods hold promise for advancing in vitro investigations of SNARE proteins and exocytosis.