The crystal structure of the activation domain of the E2 transactivator from the human papillomavirus. Persistent infection with human papillomavirus is the leading cause of cervical cancer. The E 2 protein is involved in many aspects of the viral life cycle, including gene expression and DN A replication. The image depicts the solvent-accessible surface area of the E 2 activation domain. The structure was solved by Seth Harris in the Mike Botchan lab in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology .