Pore-lining and protein interface residues of the M2 α helix were generated using PORELINING (G.R. Smith and M.S.P. Sansom, unpubl.). The M2 helices are rotated into a plane to form a disk, one surface of which corresponds to the pore-lining surface of the M2 helices (left-hand diagrams) and the other surface of which (right-hand diagrams) corresponds to the protein interface residues. The color code for residues is: gray, apolar; yellow, polar and neutral; red, acidic; blue, basic.