title: Viral ion channels: structure and function.
abstract: Viral ion channels are short auxiliary membrane proteins with a length of ca. 100 amino acids. They are found in enveloped viruses from influenza A, influenza B and influenza C (Orthomyxoviridae), and the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1, Retroviridae). The channels are called M2 (influenza A), NB (influenza B), CM2 (influenza C) and Vpu (HIV-1). Recently, in Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus (PBCV-1, Phycodnaviridae), a K+ selective ion channel has been discovered. The viral channels form homo oligomers to allow an ion flux and represent miniaturised systems. Proton conductivity of M2 is established; NB, Vpu and the potassium channel from PBC-1 conduct ions; for CM2 ion conductivity is still under proof. This review summarises the current knowledge of these short viral membrane proteins. Their discovery is outlined and experimental evidence for their structure and function is discussed. Studies using computational methods are presented as well as investigations of drug-protein interactions.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3QU, UK. wolfgang.fischer@bioch.ox.ac.uk
authors: Wolfgang B
authors: WB
authors: Fischer
authors: Mark S P
authors: MS
authors: Sansom
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C090877:CM2 protein, Influenza C virus; C405463:Kcv potassium channel, Chlorella virus; C031540:M-protein, influenza virus; C488937:M2 protein, Influenza A virus; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins; C514859:vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1