A new syntaxin family member implicated in targeting of intracellular transport vesicles

Despite the central role vesicular trafficking occupies in protein targeting, the molecular coding of the trafficking signals and the mechanism of vesicle docking and fusion are just beginning to be understood. We report here the cloning and initial characterization of a new member of the syntaxin family of vesicular transport receptors. Syntaxin 6 is a 255-amino acid protein with two domains predicted to form coiled-coils, as well as a carboxyl-terminal membrane anchor. Syntaxin 6 is broadly expressed and localizes in the region of the Golgi apparatus. In vitro binding studies established that syntaxin 6 binds to alpha-soluble NSF attachment protein (alpha-SNAP). The sequence homology, topology, localization, and alpha-SNAP binding suggest that syntaxin 6 is involved in intracellular vesicle trafficking.