G-proteins have a sequence similar to ganglioside-binding hemagglutinins from the influenza virus

Local homology was found between a conservative region of the family of alpha-subunits of GTP-binding proteins and the ganglioside-binding site of influenza virus hemagglutinins. Both families of proteins have similar patterns of distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acid residues. GTP-binding proteins and hemagglutinins are proposed to have a common molecular mechanism which underlies their attachment to cell membrane.