Puumala virus envelope glycoprotein (Gn/Gc)

The Puumala virus envelope glycoprotein comprises two main structural proteins, Gn and Gc, which are anchored in the viral lipid envelope and display as tetrameric spikes on the virion surface. Gn and Gc are translated as a single polypeptide precursor and cleaved by a signal sequence. Gn is responsible primarily for receptor interaction and spike formation, while Gc acts as a class II membrane fusion effector, mediating the fusion of the viral and host membranes in a pH-dependent manner during endocytosis. Both glycoproteins are essential for hantavirus infectivity, assembly, and budding, and are the principal targets of host neutralizing antibodies. They play central roles in the disease pathogenesis of Puumala virus, which causes nephropathia epidemica (a mild hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) in humans, mainly in Europe. No approved drugs directly target Gn or Gc, but they are considered key therapeutic and vaccine candidates due to their extracellular viral surface exposure and essential function in entry and infection.

Other names

Hantavirus Gn and Gc envelope glycoproteinsPuumala virus glycoprotein GnPuumala virus glycoprotein GcG1 and G2 (historical/alternative names; current standard is Gn and Gc)

Inhibition of membrane fusion (blocks conformational change in Gc required for fusion of the viral and host membranes) Neutralization of virus by antibody binding to spike epitopes (prevents receptor binding or fusion)