Human papillomavirus viral protein (HPV protein)

Human papillomavirus (HPV) viral proteins are a diverse group of proteins encoded by the HPV genome, essential for the virus's life cycle and its ability to cause disease. These proteins are divided into early proteins (E1, E2, E4, E5, E6, and E7), which are involved in viral replication and oncogenesis, and late proteins (L1 and L2), which form the viral capsid. The L1 protein is the primary target for prophylactic vaccines like Gardasil and Cervarix, which induce neutralizing antibodies to prevent initial infection (National Cancer Institute, 2023). In contrast, the E6 and E7 oncoproteins are the primary targets for therapeutic interventions in HPV-related cancers, as they drive malignancy by inactivating the host tumor suppressors p53 and pRb, respectively (StatPearls, 2023). Other proteins, such as the E1 helicase and E2 regulatory protein, are critical for viral DNA replication and are being explored as targets for novel small-molecule antivirals (UniProt, 2024). Because HPV is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer and a significant portion of other anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers, these viral proteins represent high-priority targets for both prevention and treatment.

Other names

HPV proteinsHuman papillomavirus early proteinsHuman papillomavirus late proteinsHPV oncoproteinsHPV capsid proteins

Prophylactic vaccines utilize recombinant L1 proteins to form virus-like particles (VLPs) that stimulate the production of neutralizing antibodies, preventing viral entry into host cells (CDC, 2021). Therapeutic vaccines and small molecules target the E6 and E7 oncoproteins to disrupt their inhibition of p53 and pRb tumor suppressors, respectively, or to induce a T-cell mediated immune response against infected cells (National Cancer Institute, 2023). Experimental antivirals may also target the E1 helicase or E2 regulatory protein to inhibit viral DNA replication and transcription (PubMed, 2022).