SNARE proteins mediate membrane fusion through a highly regulated mechanism. Generally, they are divided into two categories: v-SNAREs (vesicle SNAREs) and t-SNAREs (target SNAREs). A v-SNARE on a vesicle binds to a corresponding t-SNARE on a target membrane, forming a SNARE complex. This complex brings the vesicle and target membranes into close proximity, facilitating their fusion. The energy released from the formation of the SNARE complex drives this process.
