Small envelope protein E of SARS: cloning, expression, purification, CD determination, and bioinformatics analysis.

Aim: To obtain the pure sample of SARS small envelope E protein (SARS E protein), study its properties and analyze its possible functions.

Methods: The plasmid of SARS E protein was constructed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the protein was expressed in the E coli strain. The secondary structure feature of the protein was determined by circular dichroism (CD) technique.

A 3D model of SARS_CoV 3CL proteinase and its inhibitors design by virtual screening.

Aim: To constructed a three-dimensional (3D) model for the 3C like (3CL) proteinase of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and to design inhibitors of the 3CL proteinase based on the 3D model.

Methods: Bioinformatics analyses were performed to search the homologous proteins of the SARS-CoV 3CL proteinase from the GenBank and PDB database. A 3D model of the proteinase was constructed by using homology modeling technique.