Hemagglutinin (influenza)

Hemagglutinin
Identifiers
SymbolHemagglutinin
PfamPF00509
InterProIPR001364
SCOP21hgd / SCOPe / SUPFAM
OPM superfamily109
OPM protein6hjq
Available protein structures:
Pfam  structures / ECOD  
PDBRCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj
PDBsumstructure summary
Influenza C hemagglutinin stalk
x-ray structure of the haemagglutinin-esterase-fusion glycoprotein of influenza c virus
Identifiers
SymbolHema_stalk
PfamPF08720
InterProIPR014831
SCOP21flc / SCOPe / SUPFAM
OPM superfamily277
OPM protein2jrd
Available protein structures:
Pfam  structures / ECOD  
PDBRCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj
PDBsumstructure summary

Influenza hemagglutinin (HA) or haemagglutinin[p] (British English) is a homotrimeric glycoprotein found on the surface of influenza viruses and is integral to its infectivity.

Hemagglutinin is a class I fusion protein, having multifunctional activity as both an attachment factor and membrane fusion protein. Therefore, HA is responsible for binding influenza viruses to sialic acid on the surface of target cells, such as cells in the upper respiratory tract or erythrocytes, resulting in the internalization of the virus. Additionally, HA is responsible for the fusion of the viral envelope with the late endosomal membrane once exposed to low pH (5.0–5.5).

The name "hemagglutinin" comes from the protein's ability to cause red blood cells (i.e., erythrocytes) to clump together (i.e., agglutinate) in vitro.