Seoul virus glycoprotein Gc (Gc)

Seoul virus glycoprotein Gc is a critical structural component of the Seoul virus (SEOV) envelope, a member of the Hantaviridae family [4, 9]. It is a Class II viral fusion protein that forms heterodimeric spikes with the Gn protein on the virion surface [5, 10]. Gc is primarily responsible for mediating the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell's endosomal membrane in a pH-dependent manner, facilitating the release of the viral genome into the cytoplasm [5, 10, 29]. As a major surface antigen, Gc is a primary target for the host's neutralizing antibody response and is a focal point for the development of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics [22, 26, 30]. SEOV is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted by rats (Rattus norvegicus) and causes Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) in humans, characterized by fever, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury [4, 13, 15]. Therapeutic strategies targeting Gc include the use of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, entry-inhibiting small molecules like cepharanthine, and various vaccine platforms such as inactivated virus, DNA, and recombinant protein subunits [3, 22, 32, 34].

Other names

G2Gc proteinSeoul virus G2 glycoproteinSEOV GcOrthohantavirus seoulense glycoprotein Gc

Gc-targeted agents primarily act by inhibiting the pH-dependent membrane fusion process, neutralizing the virus by blocking receptor attachment, or preventing the conformational changes required for viral entry into the host cell [5, 26, 34].