3.5. Membrane protein
The membrane proteins (M) of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and BatCoV RaTG13 are
composed of 222, 221, and 221 amino acids, respectively (Table.1). The
identity and similarity percentages of the amino acid sequence of the M
proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV were 90.5 and 96.4 while those of
the M protein of SARS-CoV-2 and BatCoV RaTG13 were 99.5% each
(Table.2). The M protein has three domains; N-terminal, C-terminal, and
Trans-membrane with different functions [36].
The M protein IS important for the assembly, transport, and release of
the virus from the host cell organelles [37,38]. The M protein of
SARS-CoV inhibits the transcription of interferon-1 which leads to the
inhibition of the innate immunity of host organisms [39].