The yeast ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter Ycf1p enhances the recruitment of the soluble SNARE Vam7p to vacuoles for efficient membrane fusion

Background: Ycf1p is a ABCC transporter that is localized to the vacuole and that was initially characterized as a cadmium transporter. Results: Deletion of YCF1 inhibits vacuole fusion in part by excluding the soluble SNARE Vam7p. Conclusion: The vacuole fusion machinery requires Ycf1p function for efficient fusion. Significance: This is the first report that an ABCC protein affects fusion through the recruitment of a SNARE.