SNAREs, soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptors, are essential proteins for fusion of cellular membranes. SNAREs localized on opposing membranes assemble to form a trans-SNARE complex, an extended, parallel four alpha-helical bundle that drives membrane fusion ( ). STX17 is a SNARE of the autophagosome involved in autophagy through the direct control of autophagosome membrane fusion with the lysosome membrane ( , ). May also play a role in the early secretory pathway where it may maintain the architecture of the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment/ERGIC and Golgi and/or regulate transport between the endoplasmic reticulum, the ERGIC and the Golgi .
Subcellular locations: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane, Smooth endoplasmic reticulum membrane, Endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment membrane, Cytoplasmic vesicle, Autophagosome membrane, Cytoplasmic vesicle, COPII-coated vesicle membrane, Cytoplasm, Cytosol, Mitochondrion membrane
Has a hairpin-like insertion into membranes. Localizes to the completed autophagosome membrane upon cell starvation .