E2 is a
viral structural protein A viral structural protein is a viral protein that is a structural component of the mature virus.
Examples include the SARS coronavirus 3a and 7a accessory proteins.
Bacteriophage T4 structural proteins
During assembly of the bacteriophage (phag ...
found in the
hepatitis C virus
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small (55–65 nm in size), enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus of the family ''Flaviviridae''. The hepatitis C virus is the cause of hepatitis C and some cancers such as liver cancer ( hepatoc ...
.
It is present on the
viral envelope
A viral envelope is the outermost layer of many types of viruses. It protects the genetic material in their life cycle when traveling between host cells. Not all viruses have envelopes. A viral envelope protein or E protein is a protein in the en ...
and functions as a host receptor
binding protein A binding protein is any protein that acts as an agent to bind two or more molecules together.
Examples include:
* DNA-binding protein
** Single-strand binding protein
** Telomere-binding protein
*RNA-binding protein
** Poly(A)-binding protein
** ...
, mediating entry into
host cells. It is a key target for the design of
entry inhibitor
Entry inhibitors, also known as fusion inhibitors, are a class of antiviral drugs that prevent a virus from entering a cell, for example, by blocking a receptor. Entry inhibitors are used to treat conditions such as HIV and hepatitis D.
HIV entry ...
s and vaccine
immunogen
An immunogen is any substance that generates B-cell (humoral/antibody) and/or T-cell (cellular) adaptive immune responses upon exposure to a host organism.
Immunogens that generate antibodies are called antigens ("antibody-generating"). Immunoge ...
s.
References
Viral structural proteins
Hepatitis C virus
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