Gene and Protein Information
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
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
	Description:  SARS-CoV-2 M protein dimer (long form) in complex with YN7756_1 Fab PDB Id:  7VGR Resolution:  2.7Å Species:  SARS-CoV-2 References:  2
	Description:  SARS-CoV-2 M protein dimer (short form) in complex with YN7717_9 Fab PDB Id:  7VGS Resolution:  2.8Å Species:  SARS-CoV-2 References:  2

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 [2], 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.