Vesicle fusion typically follows a series of steps:
Docking: The vesicle is transported to the target membrane, where it is tethered and held in place by tethering proteins and Rab GTPases. Priming: The SNARE proteins on the vesicle (v-SNAREs) and the target membrane (t-SNAREs) form a complex, known as the SNARE complex, which pulls the two membranes close together. Fusion: The lipid bilayers of the vesicle and target membrane merge, facilitated by the SNARE complex, allowing the contents of the vesicle to be released into the target compartment or extracellular space. Disassembly: The SNARE complex is disassembled by NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) and SNAP proteins, making the SNAREs available for another round of fusion.
