Table 1 The comparison of the structural proteins of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2

From: Overview of lethal human coronaviruses

Virus

Structural proteins

References

SARS-CoV

S protein

S1 subunit

The RBD (residues 318–510)

Cell receptor (ACE2) binding

ACE2

Comprises 805 amino acids and contains a single catalytic domain

58

The RBM (residues 424–494)

S2 subunit

FP

The fusion of virus and target cell membrane

HR1 (residues 892–1013)

HR2 (residues 1145–1195)

 

N protein

Combines with viral RNA to form a nucleocapsid

56

 

M protein

Play important roles in viral assembly

  
 

E protein

MERS-CoV

S protein

S1 subunit

The RBD (residues 367–588)

Cell receptor (DPP4) binding

DPP4

N-terminal hydrolase

68,69,70,71

The RBM (residues 484–567)

S2 subunit

FP (residues 943–982)

The fusion of virus and target cell membrane

  

HR1 (residues 984–1104)

HR2 (residues 1246–1295)

  

C-terminal β-propeller domain

Transmembrane domain (residues 1296–1317)

Intracellular domain (residues 1318–1353)

 

N protein

Binds to the RNA genome to form a nucleocapsid

 

M protein

Is important in viral assembly, the formation of the viral envelope, and the formation of the viral core

 

E protein

Plays an important role in intracellular trafficking, host recognition, viral assembly, and virus budding

SARS-CoV-2

S protein

S1 subunit

The RBD

Cell receptor (ACE2) binding

ACE2

comprises 805 amino acids and contains a single catalytic domain

78,79,80

The RBM

S2 subunit

FP

The fusion of virus and target cell membrane

HR1

HR2

Transmembrane domain

Connector domain

 

N protein

Combines with viral RNA to form a nucleocapsid

75

 

M protein

Play important roles in viral assembly

 

E protein

Back to article page