1.A.97 The Human Papillomavirus type 16 E5 Viroporin (HPV-E5) Family 

High-risk human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is the primary causative agent of cervical cancer.  Cellular transformation is mediated directly by the expression of viral oncogenes,one of which, E5, subverts cellular proliferation and immune recognition processes. HPV16 E5 is an oligomeric channel-forming protein, placing it within the virus-encoded 'viroporin' family (Wetherill et al. 2012). E5 forms oligomeric assemblies of a defined luminal diameter and stoichiometry in membranous environments, and such channels mediate H⁺ transport and fluorescent dye release from liposomes. Hexameric E5 channel stoichiometry was suggested by native PAGE studies. A specific small-molecule E5 inhibitor, capable of both abrogating channel activity in vitro and reducing E5-mediated effects on cell signaling pathways was identified (Wetherill et al. 2012).