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 ( hepato ...

. 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. Numerous human pathogenic viruses in circulation are encase ...

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 ** Nuc ...

, mediating entry into

host cells In biology and medicine, a host is a larger organism that harbours a smaller organism; whether a parasitic, a mutualistic, or a commensalist ''guest'' (symbiont). The guest is typically provided with nourishment and shelter. Examples include a ...

. 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 entr ...

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"). Immunogen ...

References

Viral structural proteins Hepatitis C virus {{virus-stub