Background of the antigen
Capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 form a closed capsid enclosing the viral positive strand RNA genome. All these proteins contain a beta-sheet structure called beta-barrel jelly roll. Together they form an icosahedral capsid (T=3) composed of 60 copies of each VP1, VP2, and VP3, with a diameter of approximately 300 Angstroms. VP1 is situated at the 12 fivefold axes, whereas VP2 and VP3 are located at the quasi-sixfold axes (By similarity). Protein VP0: VP0 precursor is a component of immature procapsids. The N-terminal domain of VP0, protein VP4, is needed for the assembly of 12 pentamers into the icosahedral structure. Unlike other picornaviruses, AEV VP4 may not be myristoylated (By similarity). Protein 2B and 2BC precursor affect membrane integrity and cause an increase in membrane permeability. Protein 2C: Associates with and induces structural rearrangements of intracellular membranes. It displays RNA-binding, nucleotide binding and NTPase activities (By similarity). Protein 3A, via its hydrophobic domain, serves as membrane anchor. Protein 3B is covalently linked to the 5'-end of both the positive-strand and negative-strand genomic RNAs. It acts as a genome-linked replication primer (By similarity). Protease 3C: cysteine protease that generates mature viral proteins from the precursor polyprotein. In addition to its proteolytic activity, it binds to viral RNA, and thus influences viral genome replication. RNA and substrate bind cooperatively to the protease (By similarity). RNA-directed RNA polymerase 3D-POL replicates genomic and antigenomic RNA by recognizing replications specific signals.
