Capsid Protein VP1 Porcine Parvovirus Recombinant Protein

Capsid protein self-assembles to form an icosahedral capsid with a T=1 symmetry, about 22 nm in diameter, and consisting of 60 copies of two size variants of the capsid proteins, VP1 and VP2, which differ by the presence of an N-terminal extension in the minor protein VP1. The capsid encapsulates the genomic ssDNA. Capsid proteins are responsible for the attachment to host cell receptors. This attachment induces virion internalization predominantly through clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Binding to the host receptors also induces capsid rearrangements leading to surface exposure of VP1 N-terminus, specifically its phospholipase A2-like region and putative nuclear localization signal(s). VP1 N-terminus might serve as a lipolytic enzyme to breach the endosomal membrane during entry into host cell and might contribute to virus transport to the nucleus ().