SNARE proteins are essential components of the machinery that drives fusion of membranes during exocytosis and endocytosis - basically they help transport materials in and out of cells.
Imagine you're trying to connect two Lego blocks together; it's not going to work unless they have matching bumps and holes. Similarly, SNARE proteins are like those bumps and holes on Lego blocks - they ensure only compatible membranes fuse together during transportation processes inside cells.
Exocytosis: The process where cells transport molecules (such as proteins) out of the cell via vesicles that merge with the plasma membrane.
Endocytosis: The process where cells absorb molecules (like proteins) from outside by engulfing it with their cell membrane forming vesicles inside called endosomes.
Vesicle Fusion: The joining together or merging of vesicular membranes often facilitated by SNARE proteins.
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