Major attachment protein that mediates binding of the virus to cell surface heparan sulfate or chondroitin sulfate. Also plays a role in host immune evasion by inhibiting the host complement cascade activation (By similarity). Interacts with host complement component C3b; this interaction inhibits host immune response by disregulating complement cascade. There are seven external glycoproteins in HSV-1 and 2: gH, gB, gC, gG, gD, gI, and gE. Belongs to the herpesviridae glycoprotein C family.