Transmembrane Peptides for applications in biosensors: NB from influenza B.

Abstract

NB from influenza B is a short auxiliary protein 100 amino acids in length. It is believed to have a similar role in the virus life cycle to the channel forming protein M2 from influenza A. The latter channel can be blocked by amantadine. We have synthesized the putative transmembrane segment of NB: IRGS20 IIITICVSLI30 VILIVFGCIA40 KIFI (NB, Lee). Reconstituted in a lipid bilayer the peptide shows channel activity (Fischer et al. Biochemistry 39, 12708-12716 (2000)). In the presence of amantadine channel activity is lost reversibly. Channel activity per se and in the presence of amantadine is similar to the behaviour of the complete NB protein (Sunstrom et al. J. Membr. Biol. 150, 127-132 (1996)). The synthetic transmembrane fragment resembles the characteristics of the intact NB protein.