Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 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

17.7K

Activation of the Influenza B M2 Proton Channel (BM2)

Zhi Yue1, Jiangbo Wu1, Da Teng1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry, James Frank Institute, and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.

Biochemistry
|November 3, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Influenza B virus M2 channel (BM2) proton transport mechanisms were simulated. Researchers found His27 influences BM2 activation pH and identified key hydration sites for proton conduction, aiding antiviral drug design.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Virology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Influenza B viruses cause significant morbidity and mortality.
  • The influenza B M2 proton channel (BM2) is crucial for viral replication.
  • BM2's proton conductance mechanisms and the role of His27 are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the pH-dependent conformational switch of wildtype BM2 and an H27A mutant.
  • To elucidate the atomic-level mechanisms of symmetric proton conduction in BM2.

Main Methods:

  • Membrane-enabled continuous constant-pH molecular dynamics simulations.
  • Simulations were performed on wildtype BM2 and a His27 to Alanine (H27A) mutant channel.

Main Results:

  • BM2 activation occurs upon His19 protonation.
  • Lower activation pH compared to AM2 is due to electrostatic repulsion between His19 and His27.
  • Preactivating channel hydration in the C-terminal portion was identified as crucial for proton conduction.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides an atomic-level understanding of BM2 function.
  • Findings lay the groundwork for reactive modeling of proton transport and antiviral drug design.

More Related Videos

Multi-target Parallel Processing Approach for Gene-to-structure Determination of the Influenza Polymerase PB2 Subunit22:10

Multi-target Parallel Processing Approach for Gene-to-structure Determination of the Influenza Polymerase PB2 Subunit

Published on: June 28, 2013

13.2K
Affinity Purification of Influenza Virus Ribonucleoprotein Complexes from the Chromatin of Infected Cells11:20

Affinity Purification of Influenza Virus Ribonucleoprotein Complexes from the Chromatin of Infected Cells

Published on: June 3, 2012

13.1K

Related Concept Videos

Leaky Scanning02:28

Leaky Scanning

During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
5.1K
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
2.1K
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory...
4.5K