Sealed with a twist: complexin and the synaptic SNARE complex

Knockout experiments show that complexins are crucial for Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release. In the recently solved crystal structure of complexin I bound to the synaptic SNARE complex, complexin binds along the groove between the syntaxin and synaptobrevin coils. This structure, together with NMR data, suggests that the role of complexin is to stabilize the SNARE complex as it forms from SNAREs in vesicle and target membranes.