Glycoprotein G/G protein (RSV)

The two major glycoproteins on the surface of the RSV virion, the attachment glycoprotein (G) and the fusion (F) glycoprotein, control the initial phases of infection. The central region of the G protein contains a 13-amino acid highly conserved domain, partially overlapping the cysteine noose domain with 4 cysteines linked 1–4 and 2–3, followed by a highly basic heparin-binding domain (HBD). The HBD is the likely attachment site for heparan sulfate (HS) found on the surface of most cells. A peptide from the G protein HBD (amino acids 184–198) binds efficiently to HEp-2 cells and inhibits RSV infection.