It is noteworthy that the displacement of loop 167-172 induced by LZE binding also provides a possible mechanism of its inhibitory effect. It is known that 3CLPro is only active as a dimer. After its dimerisation and activation, the N finger of each monomer interacts with GLU166 of the other to perform the catalytic activity. Similarly, HIS172 is involved in forming a salt-bridge with the other monomer essential for dimerisation. Thus, the displacement of loop 167-172 negatively affects the dimerisation of 3CLPro which explains the inhibitory effect of LZE binding.