Water orientation and dynamics in the closed and open influenza B virus M2 proton channels

Abstract

To understand how water in the channel made of the influenza B M2 protein mediates proton transport across the lipid membrane, Gelenter et al. investigate the water orientation and dynamics. This study suggests that faster dynamics and higher orientational order of water molecules in the open channel compared to the closed one establish the water network structure that is necessary for proton hopping.