Project:  Role of matrix protein M1 in Influenza A assembly and budding  

Nadine Jungnick 

The major structural protein in influenza A is the matrix protein M1. It forms a homogeneous shell beneath the virus lipid envelope. During assembly and budding of new virus particles from infected cells it functions as the crucial linker between the envelope with the spike proteins and the inner core made of the vRNP oktamere. This project focuses on the function of defined M1 regions in respect to lipid binding preferences as well as interactions with the cytoplasmic parts of the spike protein hemagglutinin and the vRNPs. Therefore M1 itself and mutants will be recombinant expressed, purified and characterised via binding assays to artificial membranes and via crystallography.

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