Proton Channels

From Proteopedia

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search

Revision as of 21:01, 14 March 2008

The M2 protein of influenza A virus is a proton channel. Its function is essential to infection by the virus.

In January, 2008, crystallographic and NMR structures were published side by side for the transmembrane domains of the M2 protein: 3bkd and 2rlf. The former appeared to be in an open conformation blocked by amantadine, while the latter appeared to be in a closed conformation stabilized by rimantadine.

At right is a linear-interpolation morph between 3BKD and 2RLF, showing the proposed opening and closing of this channel.

Personal tools