Binding interactions control SNARE specificity in vivo

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two SNAP25 paralogues, Sec9 and Spo20, which mediate vesicle fusion at the plasma membrane and the prospore membrane, respectively. Fusion at the prospore membrane is sensitive to perturbation of the central ionic layer of the SNARE complex. Mutation of the central glutamine of the t-SNARE Sso1 impaired sporulation, but does not affect vegetative growth. Suppression of the sporulation defect of an sso1 mutant requires expression of a chimeric form of Spo20 carrying the SNARE helices of Sec9. Mutation of two residues in one SNARE domain of Spo20 to match those in Sec9 created a form of Spo20 that restores sporulation in the presence of the sso1 mutant and can replace SEC9 in vegetative cells. This mutant form of Spo20 displayed enhanced activity in in vitro fusion assays, as well as tighter binding to Sso1 and Snc2. These results demonstrate that differences within the SNARE helices can discriminate between closely related SNAREs for function in vivo.