M2-Influenza – Other Categories

Influenza virus budding from infected cells requires membrane remodelling, is a multistep process with many proteins involved. Therefore there are numerous stages and proteins that could be antiviral targets if the mechanism can be better understood. The matrix 2 (M2) protein has recently been shown to be essential for completion of membrane scission at the end of buddinng. Initially, proteins aid membrane curvature, including matrix 2 (M2) protein, a bud forms, and finally membrane scission occurs to release the bud at the neck from the membrane occurs- M2 amphipathic helix domain in the cytoplasmic tail is essential for completion of scission to release the virus bud. The residues 44-62, provided here, have been identified as the motif responsible for allowing the scission mechanism to occur. Work is ongoing to understand the exact molecular mechanism by comparison to other scission proteins such as Arf1, Epsin1. Use of this M2 peptide motif may provide functional knowledge of virus budding and lead to novel antiviral drugs.