In eukaryotic cells, the Golgi apparatus receives newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum and delivers them after covalent modification to their destination in the cell. For membrane-directed proteins this process is believed to be carried out via vesicular transport. Correct vesicular transport is determined by specific pairing of vesicle-associated SNAREs (v-SNAREs) with those on the target membrane (t-SNAREs). This complex then recruits soluble NSF attachment proteins (SNAPs) and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) to form the highly stable SNAP receptor (SNARE) complex. The formation of a SNARE complex pulls the vesicle and target membranes together and may provide the energy to drive the fusion of the lipid bilayers. Golgi SNARE 27 kDa (GS27) and GS28 belong to the SNARE protein family and are important trafficking proteins between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi and between Golgi subcompartments. GS27 and GS28 both exist as cytoplasmically oriented integral membrane proteins. The human GS27 gene, which maps to chromosome 17q21, is located near a locus implicated in familial essential hypertension, indicating that it is a potential candidate gene for this disease. The human GS28 gene maps to chromosome 17q11.