title: HCV glycoprotein structures: what to expect from the unexpected.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is continuing to spread worldwide, adding three million new infections each year. Currently approved therapies are highly effective; however, access to them is limited due to the high cost of treatment. Therefore, a cost effective vaccine and alternative antivirals remain essential. HCV envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, heterodimerize on the virion surface and are the major determinant for virus pathogenicity and host immune response. Recent structural insights into amino-terminal domain of E1 and core of E2 have revealed unexpected folds not present in glycoproteins from related viruses. Here we discuss these structural findings with respect to their role in HCV entry and impact on potential vaccine design and new antivirals.
authors: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 679 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors: Abdul Ghafoor
authors: AG
authors: Khan
authors: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 679 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors: Matthew T
authors: MT
authors: Miller
authors: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 679 Hoes Lane West, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Electronic address: jmarco@cabm.rutgers.edu.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Marcotrigiano
mesh_terms: D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus