Recently, methods for the analysis and design of water-soluble, oligom
eric bundles of a helices, including coiled coils, have reached a high
level of sophistication. These same methods may now be applied to tra
nsmembrane helical bundles. Studies of the transmembrane domains of gl
ycophorin, phospholamban, and the M-2 protein from influenza A virus e
xemplify this general approach.