PMID: 12004067 , Related PDB id: 1L4A

Authors:

Bracher A, Kadlec J, Betz H, Weissenhorn W

Title:

X-ray structure of a neuronal complexin-SNARE complex from squid.

Journal:

J Biol Chem. 2002 Jul 19;277(29):26517-23. Epub 2002 May 9.

Abstract:

Nerve terminals release neurotransmitters from vesicles into the synaptic cleft upon transient increases in intracellular Ca(2+). This exocytotic process requires the formation of trans SNARE complexes and is regulated by accessory proteins including the complexins. Here we report the crystal structure of a squid core complexin-SNARE complex at 2.95-A resolution. A helical segment of complexin binds in anti-parallel fashion to the four-helix bundle of the core SNARE complex and interacts at its C terminus with syntaxin and synaptobrevin around the ionic zero layer of the SNARE complex. We propose that this structure is part of a multiprotein fusion machinery that regulates vesicle fusion at a late pre-fusion stage. Accordingly, Ca(2+) may initiate membrane fusion by acting directly or indirectly on complexin, thus allowing the conformational transitions of the trans SNARE complex that are thought to drive membrane fusion.