Proton conduction through the M2 protein of the influenza A virus;: a quantitative, mechanistic analysis of experimental data

The M2 proton channel from influenza A virus forms proton-selective ion channels, which are the target of the drug amantadine. Here, existing experimental data are quantitatively examined for insights into mechanisms to account for the pH-and voltage-dependences of M2 proton conduction. The analysis shows that a model involving protonation equilibria of His 37, including pH-dependent changes in the relative rates of diffusion on either side of the pore, is quantitatively able to account for recently reported electrophysiological data examining the pH-and voltage-dependences of Rostock and Weybridge strain M2 proton conduction. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.