Abraham lab at Harvard Medical School @abrahamlabhms.bsky.social · 25/08/2026The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) family of proteins were shown to serve as receptors for flaviviruses. Here, we use cryo-EM 🔬 to reveal how the flavivirus envelope (E) protein interacts with LRP4 and LRP8 (also called ApoER2). 121
Abraham lab at Harvard Medical School @abrahamlabhms.bsky.social · 25/08/2026We determined cryo-EM structures of yellow fever virus in complex with either LRP4 or LRP8. LA repeats in these receptors bind viruses and ligands. Yellow fever virus binds LRP4 LA repeats 6 and 7 (6,7!!!😂), or LRP8 LA repeats 1 and 2. 221
Abraham lab at Harvard Medical School @abrahamlabhms.bsky.social · 27/08/2026So happy to see the positive feedback this work has received thus far from colleagues in the field! ❤️ For us, it's just been crazy to see the similarities between flaviviruses and alphaviruses in terms of LDLR-binding!🤪 010
Abraham lab at Harvard Medical School @abrahamlabhms.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Our structural analysis also revealed that tick-borne encephalitis virus binds LA repeats 1-2 interact LRP8 but uses domain II of its E protein, while yellow fever virus uses domains I and III. 121
