ROD-LIKE STRUCTURE OF SNARE CORE COMPLEX REVEALED BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

As the key player which mediated the vesicle fusion in neuronal synapsome,SNARE(soluble NSF attachment protein receptors) complex consists of syntaxin,SNAP25,and VAMP.The SNARE core complex,which forms by the soluble part of SNARE proteins,plays the key part in fusion process.Using many purification methods,including ion exchange column,size exclusion column,SNARE core complex of high purity was got and its stability was analyzed in water solution.At last,the structure of SNARE core complex was determined using two-dimensional average method by electronic microscopy.SNARE core complex is a rod-like structure,about 2.5 nm in width and 12 nm in length.