Functional characterization of palmitoylated and nonacylated SNAP-25 purified from insect cells infected with recombinant baculovirus.

SNARE complex formation among syntaxin 1, VAMP 2, and SNAP-25 triggers fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic plasma membrane. After fusion the SNARE complex is disassembled by NSF and alpha-SNAP. These reactions have already been characterized with recombinant proteins lacking the authentic protein modifications.