SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein and its relationship to the membrane protein

Abstract

The structural proteins located on the SARS-CoV-2 envelope, namely the spike, membrane and envelope protein, play important roles during the entire viral infection cycle. For example, the interaction between the membrane protein and the other structural proteins results in the formation of new virions, while the envelope protein then mediates their secretion. The membrane protein and envelope protein are considered potential drug targets, driving future exploration of their structures and interactions. However, research efforts are complicated as both proteins are membrane-bound and have several functions depending on their tertiary and quaternary structure. Here we review data originating from different sources and explain what is known about the structure and function of these proteins to date.