Zika Envelope N protein is >95% pure as determined by SDS-PAGE.
Zika Envelope N protein is a peptide partially derived from zika envelope N terminal containing 270 amino acids, having an Mw of 30kDa and the Isoelectric point is 6.37.
The Zika Envelope N protein is fused to a 6xHis tag at C-terminus and purified by proprietary chromatographic technique.
The Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus. It was first identified in a rhesus monkey in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947 . ZIKV is known for causing neurological abnormalities and has become a significant global health concern, necessitating the development of accurate diagnostics, effective vaccines, and therapeutics .
The envelope (Env) protein of ZIKV plays a crucial role in the virus’s life cycle. It is involved in receptor binding, fusion, and viral entry into target cells. The Env protein is also a primary target for neutralizing antibodies during ZIKV infection . The Env protein is composed of three domains: DI, DII, and DIII, with DIII being particularly important for eliciting neutralizing antibodies .
The N-terminal 80% of the ZIKV envelope protein (80E) has been expressed recombinantly in various systems, including Pichia pastoris and mammalian cells . This recombinant protein has been studied for its potential use in vaccines and diagnostic assays.
In one study, the N-terminal 80% of the ZIKV envelope protein was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The recombinant protein self-assembled into particulate structures, preserving the antigenic integrity of neutralizing epitopes on the E domain III (EDIII). This recombinant protein elicited potent ZIKV-neutralizing antibodies predominantly against EDIII in BALB/c mice, offering significant protection without the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) upon subsequent dengue virus (DENV) or ZIKV infection .
Another study focused on optimizing the production of the ZIKV envelope protein in mammalian cells. Various gene expression constructs were designed to produce the ZIKV envelope protein with or without a rat CD4 fusion partner. The resulting Env-CD4 protein was used as a coating reagent for immunoassays (ELISA) and demonstrated the ability to bind antibodies from ZIKV-infected patient sera. This recombinant protein showed potential for use in monitoring humoral immune responses in clinical trials and as a sero-diagnostic tool in ZIKV infection .