Hantaan virus Gn-Gc envelope glycoprotein complex (HTNV Gn-Gc)

The Hantaan virus Gn-Gc envelope glycoprotein complex is the essential surface component of the Hantaan orthohantavirus, which is the primary cause of Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) (UniProt P08668). This complex is derived from a single M-segment polyprotein that is post-translationally cleaved into the Gn (N-terminal) and Gc (C-terminal) subunits, which then form a heterodimeric spike on the viral envelope (PubMed: 30518653). The Gn subunit is primarily responsible for host cell receptor recognition, often targeting beta-3 integrins, while the Gc subunit acts as a class II fusion protein that mediates the merger of viral and endosomal membranes under acidic conditions (PubMed: 27856882). Because these glycoproteins are the only proteins exposed on the virion surface, they are the primary targets for the host immune response and the focus of vaccine and antibody-based therapeutic development (PubMed: 31434745). Current research focuses on neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and DNA vaccines that target conserved epitopes within the Gn-Gc complex to prevent viral entry and spread (PubMed: 33441441).

Other names

Hantaan virus glycoprotein precursorG1-G2 glycoprotein complexHTNV M segment polyproteinGn/Gc heterodimer

Neutralization of viral entry by blocking receptor binding or inhibiting pH-dependent membrane fusion.