A SNARE complex is an assembly of complementary SNARE proteins, commonly forming a four-helix bundle. A trans complex bridges opposing membranes and can promote membrane fusion; after fusion, its components occupy the same membrane in a cis complex. ATP-dependent disassembly permits component reuse. This distinction explains why detecting a complex alone does not determine whether it is a fusion intermediate or a product remaining after fusion. [ref]
SNAREpins: minimal machinery for membrane fusion by T. Weber and others. Weber and others, 1998, SNAREpins linking two membranes
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