Recombinant Flaviviridae Envelope Protein E2 Dimer (Flavivirus & Pestivirus)

Background

The family Flaviviridae comprises several medically and economically significant viruses, including members of both the Flavivirus and Pestivirus genera. The envelope glycoprotein E2 is a major structural and immunogenic protein, playing a crucial role in receptor binding and inducing neutralizing antibodies. In the mature virus, the E protein forms dimers on the surface, presenting specific "quaternary epitopes" that are vital for inducing a strong immune response. However, soluble recombinant E proteins often exist as monomers, which lack these key epitopes and are thus less effective as vaccine candidates. Therefore, researchers are developing methods to stabilize the dimeric form of the E protein, either through specific mutations or by assembling it into virus-like particles (VLPs), to improve its potential as a subunit vaccine antigen.

Fig. 1 BVDV E2 forms covalently linked dimers

Challenges in Producing Recombinant E Protein Dimers

Producing correctly folded, antigenically authentic E2 dimers poses several documented challenges. One major barrier is disulfide bond mispairing: E2 contains multiple cysteines whose correct pairing is essential for structural integrity; incorrect disulfide formation often leads to misfolding or aggregation.

Glycosylation heterogeneity is another obstacle—differences in N-linked glycan processing across host systems can generate microheterogeneity that affects epitope presentation and stability. In many expression systems, E2 may misfold or be retained in the endoplasmic reticulum if chaperone assistance is inadequate.

During purification, exposure to harsh buffer conditions or detergents can disrupt the dimer interface, causing dissociation into monomers or partial denaturation.

Recombinant Flavivirus E2 Dimer at Creative Diagnostics

We have successfully developed a panel of Flaviviridae E2 dimer proteins expressed in CHO cells. Representative viruses include Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV), Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), and Duck Tembusu Virus (DTUMV). Each protein is produced as a true dimer with mammalian-like post-translational modifications.

Our platform achieves high expression levels with titers of TFB 10 g/L and IFB 20 g/L, ensuring scalable production and consistent quality. These recombinant E2 dimers are ideal for vaccine development, diagnostic assays, antibody screening, and structural research.

Product List