Seeing an explosive way of NSF/SNAP-mediated SNARE-complex disassembly using single-molecule measurements

N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) and alpha soluble NSF attachment protein (α-SNAP) disassemble the SNAP receptor (SNARE) complex for recycling of the SNARE proteins. Using single-molecule fluorescence and force spectroscopy, we found that NSF appears to use a "spring-loaded" mechanism.