HCMV - human cytomegalovirus; a type I membrane protein, prevents maturation of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules by retaining them in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and thus helps inhibit antigen presentation to cytotoxic T cells; bind to class I MHC molecules in a transient fashion but retain them very efficiently in the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM; has been sequenced
