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Gene and Protein Information ![]() |
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Species | TM | AA | Chromosomal Location | Gene Symbol | Gene Name | Reference |
SARS-CoV-2 | 3 | 222 | Orf5 | M | Membrane glycoprotein | |
SARS-CoV | 3 | 221 | Orf5 | M | Membrane glycoprotein |
Previous and Unofficial Names ![]() |
membrane protein |
Database Links ![]() |
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Entrez Gene | 43740571 (SARS-CoV-2), 1489672 (SARS-CoV) |
RefSeq Protein | YP_009825055 (SARS-CoV), YP_009724393 (SARS-CoV-2) |
UniProtKB | P0DTC5 (SARS-CoV-2), P59596 (SARS-CoV) |
Selected 3D Structures ![]() |
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Inhibitors | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General Comments |
The membrane glycoprotein (M) is usually regarded as the most abundant protein in the coronavirus envelope. The SARS-CoV-2 M protein is 222 aa and by similarity with other coronavirus M proteins is predicted to act as a scaffold for the co-assembly of the complex of structural and accessory proteins that form the viral envelope [1]. The crystal structure of M shares unexpected similarities with that of the viral ion channel (viroporin) formed by ORF3a [3], but ion conductance has not been demonstrated, and is predicted to be unlikely for the M structures determined so far. Targeting M protein's function in viral assembly offers a potential mechanism for an antiviral therapeutic intervention. |
1. Ruch TR, Machamer CE. (2012) The coronavirus E protein: assembly and beyond. Viruses, 4 (3): 363-82. [PMID:22590676]
2. Van Damme E, Abeywickrema P, Yin Y, Xie J, Jacobs S, Mann MK, Doijen J, Miller R, Piassek M, Marsili S et al.. (2025) A small-molecule SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor targeting the membrane protein. Nature, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:40140563]
3. Zhang Z, Nomura N, Muramoto Y, Ekimoto T, Uemura T, Liu K, Yui M, Kono N, Aoki J, Ikeguchi M et al.. (2022) Structure of SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein essential for virus assembly. Nat Commun, 13 (1): 4399. [PMID:35931673]