Purified M2 protein from the Udorn strain of influenza virus was reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers from liposomes. In 1 mM HCl, the single-channel conductance was measured as 6 pS with open probability of < or =0.03. The current voltage curve is linear over the achievable voltage range. The current amplitude is amantadine sensitive. In HCl solutions, the single-channel current was essentially invariant with changes in [Cl(-)], [Na(+)], and [tetraethylammonium] ([TEA(+)]), but dependent on [H(+)]. The reversal potential, determined with asymmetrical hydrogen chloride solution, is very close to the equilibrium potential of hydrogen. This appears to be the first report of single-channel proton currents with the full-length M2 protein.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.