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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Blood Rev. 2009 May 17;23(4):177–189. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2009.04.001

Figure 4. Role of SNAREs α–granule membrane fusion.

Figure 4

A) The primary vSNARE mediating platelet α–granule secretion is VAMP-8, with VAMP-3 and perhaps VAMP-2 serving subordinate functions. Platelet tSNAREs include syntaxins and SNAP-23. Syntaxin-2 and 4 participate in α–granule release. Coiled-coil domains (bolded) within vSNAREs (blue) and tSNAREs (orange) interact, forming a twisted 4-helical bundle. B) Interaction of the coiled-coil domains brings the opposing membranes of the granule and target membrane into close apposition. C) Binding of vSNAREs and tSNAREs generates energy required for membrane fusion. Pore formation with release of granule contents subsequently ensues.