Syntaxins were originally thought to be docking proteins, but have more recently been categorized as anchoring proteins that anchor themselves to the cytoplasmic surfaces of cellular membranes. Syntaxins have been shown to bind to various proteins involved in exocytosis, including VAMPs (vesicle-associated membrane proteins), NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor), SNAP 25 (synaptosomal-associated protein of 25kDa), SNAPs (soluble NSF attachment proteins) and synaptotagmin. VAMPs (also design