Description | Viral protein involved in the evasion of host adaptive immune response by inhibiting the tapasin/TAPBP protein. tapasin/TAPBP is a type I transmembrane protein essential for the optimal expression of stable MHC class I molecules on host cell surface. Its helps the MHC class I molecules to remain in a peptide receptive state, avoiding irreversible denaturation. Several retroviruses and DNA viruses encode proteins interacting with tapasin/TAPBP and inhibiting its activity |