Zika virus envelope protein E (E protein)

The Zika virus envelope protein E is the principal surface glycoprotein of Zika virus, a member of the flavivirus family. It forms a homodimeric array covering the viral surface, with each monomer comprised of three main ectodomains (EDI, EDII, EDIII) and a stem with transmembrane anchor domains. The E protein is directly responsible for binding to host cell receptors, mediating viral entry by catalyzing membrane fusion, and is the major antigenic target for neutralizing antibodies. A critical glycosylation site at Asn154 influences neurovirulence and vector transmissibility. Targeting the E protein is central to vaccine strategies and therapeutic antibody development due to its essential role in infection and immunity. The structure of ZIKV E protein, solved at atomic resolution, shows unique features compared to other flaviviruses and informs efforts to design diagnostics, vaccines, and antibody-based therapies.

Other names

ZIKV envelope protein EFlavivirus envelope protein E

Neutralizing antibodies: block viral entry and membrane fusion by binding to the fusion loop or other domains of the E protein; Inhibition of viral attachment/fusion: experimental small molecules and peptides could disrupt the conformational transitions required for virus-cell merger (preclinical research)