Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major causative agent of acute hepatitis in developing countries. The Norway rat HEV genome consists of six open reading frames (ORFs), i.e., ORF1, ORF2, ORF3, ORF4, ORF5 and ORF6. The additional reading frame encoded protein ORF5 is attributed to life cycle of rat HEV. The ORFF5 protein's function remains undetermined. Therefore, it is of interest to analyze the ORF5 protein for its physiochemical properties, primary structure, secondary structure, tertiary structure and functional characteristics using bioinformatics tools. Analysis of the ORF5 protein revealed it as highly unstable, hydrophilic with basic pi. The ORF5 protein consisted mostly of Arg, Pro, Ser, Leu and Gly. The 3D structural homology model of the ORF5 protein generated showed mixed alpha/beta structural fold with predominance of coils. Structural analysis revealed the presence of clefts, pores and a tunnel. This data will help in the sequence, structure and functional annotation of ORF5.