The present invention provides compositions comprising hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope 2 (E2) polypeptides, including receptor-binding variants, and various uses thereof, wherein the polypeptides are modified to comprise: (i) A cysteine mutated or interrupted at 2, 3 or 4 cysteines from C452, C486, C569, and C597; and, wherein, relative to an HCV E2 polypeptide without cysteine modification, the polypeptide passes Intermolecular disulfide bonds form substantially few multimers and CD81 binding is substantially retained. The present invention provides methods for preparing a composition comprising at least 40%, or at least 45%, or at least 50%, or at least 55%, or at least 60%, or at least 65%, or at least 70% monomeric HCV E2 polypeptide, so The method comprises expressing a polypeptide in a host cell and isolating the expressed product, wherein the polypeptide is an HCV E2 polypeptide including receptor binding variants, and wherein the polypeptide is modified to comprise: (i) a protein selected from the group consisting of C452 Cysteines mutated or interrupted at 2, 3 or 4 cysteines of C486, C569 and C597.