Figure 7.
Dimeric architecture of new-inactive Mpro. (a) The new conformation of the oxyanion loop (labeled ‘loop’) causes changes in the interface between protomer A (blue) and protomer B (light blue) at the level of the N-finger (labelled ‘NF’) and the C-terminal tail (labeled ‘C-term’). (b) Local differences between the new structure [blue-based colors as in (a)] and the canonical structure (PDB entry 6y2e; brown-based colors, with intact C-terminus): the shift of the Leu141 side chain seems to have major effects in destabilizing the C-terminal tail of the new structure.