<p>One small protein in SARS-CoV-2, the Membrane protein, or M protein, is the most abundant and plays a crucial role in how the virus acquires its spherical structure. Nonetheless, this protein’s properties are not well understood. A research team at the University of California, Riverside, has devised a new method to make large quantities of M protein, and has characterized the protein’s physical interactions with the membrane of the virus.</p>