Studies on influenza A virus M2-host interactome and its role in virus replication

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K08014
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Veterinary medical science
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Manzoor Rashid 北海道大学, 人獣共通感染症リサーチセンター, 特任助教 (90566150)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: influenza A virus / M2 protein

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Despite the diverse roles of IAV-M2 during virus replication, little is known about the molecular basis of these diverse functions. While en route to the cell membrane, the M2-ectodomain and cytoplasmic tail are exposed to vesicular/organelle and cytoplasmic environments, where they may interact with various cellular proteins. During this study we identified host-proteins which interact with IAV M2 protein and affect virus replication. We found two amino acid residues (position 54 and 57) uniquely different between two IAV subtypes that governed the interaction of M2 with plasma membrane thereby playing role in virus budding/release. The M2 protein, besides increasing the transmembrane domain (TMD) length and having two inherent lipid raft targeting features, did not associate with lipid rafts suggesting that　the M2-TMD length is not the only non-lipid micro-domain localization determinant. These results also suggested that virus release/budding requires optimum length of M2-TMD.

Free Research Field

Veterinary Science

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Our findings add significant information to the existing scientific knowledge on influenza A virus M2 protein roles in virus infected cells, plausibly providing the basic information that can be used for the development of strategies for virus control and therapeutic measures.