When nerve cells communicate, vesicles from one neuron fuse with the presynaptic membrane releasing chemicals that signal to the next. Similarly, when insulin binds its receptor on adipocytes or muscle, glucose transporter-4 vesicles fuse with the cell membrane, allowing glucose to be imported. These essential processes require the interaction of SNARE proteins on vesicle and cell membranes, as well as the enigmatic protein Munc18 that binds the SNARE protein Syntaxin. Here, we show that in solution the neuronal protein Syntaxin1a interacts with Munc18-1 whether or not the Syntaxin1a N-peptide is present. Conversely, the adipocyte protein Syntaxin4 does not bind its partner Munc18c unless the N-peptide is present. Solution-scattering data for the Munc18-1:Syntaxin1a complex in the absence of the N-peptide indicates that this complex adopts the inhibitory closed binding mode, exemplified by a crystal structure of the complex. However, when the N-peptide is present, the solution-scattering data indicate both Syntaxin1a and Syntaxin4 adopt extended conformations in complexes with their respective Munc18 partners. The low-resolution solution structure of the open Munc18:Syntaxin binding mode was modeled using data from cross-linking/mass spectrometry, small-angle X-ray scattering, and small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation, indicating significant differences in Munc18:Syntaxin interactions compared with the closed binding mode. Overall, our results indicate that the neuronal Munc18-1:Syntaxin1a proteins can adopt two alternate and functionally distinct binding modes, closed and open, depending on the presence of the N-peptide, whereas Munc18c:Syntaxin4 adopts only the open binding mode. membrane fusion | protein interactions | small-angle neutron scattering | small-angle X-ray scattering M embrane trafficking is an essential and highly regulated process whereby cargo-carrying vesicles are directed to dock and fuse with specific cell membranes. The process requires soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment receptor (SNARE) proteins on vesicle and target membranes. These interact to form high-affinity SNARE complexes required for docking and membrane fusion (1, 2). Structurally, the SNARE complex is a parallel four-helix bundle comprising helices contributed from several partner SNAREs (3). This helical bundle promotes vesicle fusion by bringing the vesicle and plasma membranes into close proximity and by providing the energy required for membrane fusion (4, 5).In the neuronal synapse, neurotransmitters are released from nerve cells by SNARE-mediated fusion of vesicles with the plasma membrane in response to action potentials. In this process, one of four SNARE helices is contributed by Syntaxin (Sx) 1a, a protein localized at the plasma membrane by a transmembrane helix. In addition to its membrane-anchored SNARE helix (H3), Sx1a has an Habc domain that can bind to the H3 helix (6) forming a closed Sx1a conformation (Fig. 1A). This closed conformation inactivates Sx1a by preventing H3 inter...