Human papillomavirus type 18 E2 protein (HPV18 E2)

The Human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) E2 protein is a multi-functional viral regulator essential for the viral life cycle and is a primary target for therapeutic intervention in high-risk HPV infections. It functions as a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that recruits the E1 helicase to the viral origin of replication, thereby initiating viral DNA synthesis (UniProt: P06791). Beyond replication, E2 acts as a transcriptional regulator, typically repressing the expression of the E6 and E7 oncogenes in early infection (PubMed: 22438551). The loss of E2 function, often through viral genome integration into the host DNA, is a critical step in the progression to cervical cancer as it results in the overexpression of E6 and E7 (PubMed: 15107418). Therapeutic strategies targeting E2 focus on small molecules that disrupt the E1-E2 protein-protein interaction or inhibit E2's ability to bind to the viral Long Control Region (PubMed: 12134021). Successfully targeting E2 could potentially clear persistent HPV18 infections and prevent the development of associated malignancies.

Other names

Regulatory protein E2HPV-18 E2E2 proteinTranscription factor E2

Inhibition of the E1-E2 protein-protein interaction to block viral DNA replication and restoration of E6/E7 transcriptional repression.