title: Reduced incorporation of the influenza B virus BM2 protein in virus particles decreases infectivity.
abstract: BM2 is the fourth integral membrane protein encoded by the influenza B virus genome. It is synthesized late in infection and transported to the plasma membrane from where it is subsequently incorporated into progeny virus particles. It has recently been reported that BM2 has ion channel activity and may be the functional homologue of the influenza A virus M2 protein acting as an ion channel involved in viral entry. Using a reverse genetic approach it was not possible to recover virus which lacked BM2. A recombinant influenza B virus was generated in which the BM2 AUG initiation codon was mutated to GUG. This decreased the efficiency of translation of BM2 protein such that progeny virions contained only 1/8 the amount of BM2 seen in wild-type virus. The reduction in BM2 incorporation resulted in a reduction in infectivity although there was no concomitant decrease in the numbers of virions released from the infected cells. These data imply that the incorporation of sufficient BM2 protein into influenza B virions is required for infectivity of the virus particles.
authors.affiliation: School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AJ, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zürcher
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barclay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006801:Humans; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009154:Mutation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism*; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: C064964:BM2 polypeptide, influenza B virus; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D014764:Viral Proteins