Henipavirus fusion glycoprotein (F protein) (F protein)

The Henipavirus fusion (F) glycoprotein is a critical structural component of Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), two highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses (UniProt: P0C1C6). As a class I viral fusion protein, it facilitates the merging of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane, a process essential for viral entry and subsequent infection (PMID: 22438551). The F protein is synthesized as an inactive precursor, F0, which requires proteolytic cleavage by host cell enzymes, such as cathepsin L, to become fusion-competent. It functions in a coordinated manner with the attachment (G) glycoprotein; once the G protein binds to host receptors (ephrin-B2 or ephrin-B3), the F protein undergoes a dramatic conformational change to drive membrane fusion (PMID: 30305457). Because of its indispensable role in the viral life cycle, the F protein is a primary target for the development of therapeutic interventions, including neutralizing monoclonal antibodies like 5B3 and fusion-inhibitory peptides derived from the HR2 domain. Inhibiting this protein prevents the virus from delivering its genetic material into the host cytoplasm, thereby halting the infection process and preventing the formation of multinucleated syncytia.

Other names

Hendra virus fusion proteinNipah virus fusion proteinHeV-FNiV-FFusion glycoprotein F0Protein F

Inhibition of viral-host membrane fusion by preventing the conformational transition of the F protein from a pre-fusion to a post-fusion state.