New structural insights into the multifunctional influenza A matrix protein 1

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Co-immunoprecipitation of the Mouse Mx1 Protein with the Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein
09:39

Co-immunoprecipitation of the Mouse Mx1 Protein with the Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein

Published on: April 21, 2015

17.9K

Julia Peukes1,2, Xiaoli Xiong1,3, John A G Briggs1,4

  • 1Structural Studies Division, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.

FEBS Letters
|September 21, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Influenza A virus matrix protein 1 (M1) forms filaments, revealing its structure and function in virus assembly and infection. This provides a molecular basis for understanding M1

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Influenza A virus matrix protein 1 (M1) is crucial for viral structure and replication.
  • M1 protein is the most abundant protein in influenza virions.
  • M1 plays key roles in nuclear RNA export, virus assembly, and disassembly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare and discuss the first structures of full-length M1.
  • To explore the implications of M1 structures for its functions.
  • To understand the molecular mechanisms of M1 in virus life cycle.

Main Methods:

  • Structural analysis of full-length M1.
  • Comparison of two recent M1 structure publications.
  • In vitro filament assembly assays.

Main Results:

  • First structures of full-length M1 reveal filament assembly via N- and C-terminal domains.
  • Assembled M1 filaments resemble the virion endoskeleton.
  • Structures offer molecular insights into M1's multifunctional roles.

Conclusions:

  • M1 protein structures provide a molecular basis for understanding its functions.
  • M1 filament formation is key to virus assembly and M1's role in infection.
  • Further research can elucidate M1's interactions with viral ribonucleoproteins.
Keywords:
M1cryo-electron tomographyenveloped virushelical reconstructioninfluenza virusmatrix proteinsprotein oligomerizationsubtomogram averagingvirus assembly

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