Thomas Steitz Lecture: James Rothman, "Turbo-Charging Synaptic Transmission"

How neurotransmitter release can occur thousands of times faster than other forms of SNARE-dependent membrane fusion has been a vexing problem. We have uncovereda simple principle involving two layers ofSNAREpins that explains this. An elaborate molecular machine involving over 100 polypeptide chains scaffolds assembly of two layers of six SNAREs in successive waves.