Outer capsid protein VP4

UniProtKB accession:  P12473

Grouped By:  Matching UniProtKB accession

UniProtKB description:  Spike-forming protein that mediates virion attachment to the host epithelial cell receptors and plays a major role in cell penetration, determination of host range restriction and virulence (PubMed:25211455). Rotavirus attachment and entry into the host cell probably involves multiple sequential contacts between the outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7, and the cell receptors (PubMed:15165605). It is subsequently lost, together with VP7, following virus entry into the host cell (PubMed:15165605). Following entry into the host cell, low intracellular or intravesicular Ca(2+) concentration probably causes the calcium-stabilized VP7 trimers to dissociate from the virion (PubMed:25211455). This step is probably necessary for the membrane-disrupting entry step and the release of VP4, which is locked onto the virion by VP7 (PubMed:25211455). During the virus exit from the host cell, VP4 seems to be required to target the newly formed virions to the host cell lipid rafts (PubMed:16571810).