Entropic forces drive clustering and spatial localization of influenza A M2 during viral budding.

ABSTRACT: The influenza A matrix 2 (M2) transmembrane protein facilitates virion release from the infected host cell. In particular, M2 plays a role in the induction of membrane curvature and/or in the scission process whereby the envelope is cut upon virion release. Here we show using coarse-grained computer simulations that various M2 assembly geometries emerge due to an entropic driving force, resulting in compact clusters or linearly extended aggregates as a direct consequence of the lateral membrane stresses. Conditions under which these protein assemblies will cause the lipid membrane to curve are explored, and we predict that a critical cluster size is required for this to happen. We go on to demonstrate that under the stress conditions taking place in the cellular membrane as it undergoes la

SUBMITTER: Madsen JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6140502 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature