Structural highlights
Function
VP4_ROTHC 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. Rotavirus entry into the host cell probably involves multiple sequential contacts between the outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7, and the cell receptors (By similarity). Outer capsid protein VP5*: forms the spike "foot" and "body". Acts as a membrane permeabilization protein that mediates release of viral particles from endosomal compartments into the cytoplasm (By similarity). VP8* forms the head of the spikes. It is the viral hemagglutinin and an important target of neutralizing antibodies (By similarity).
