The Recombinant Norwalk virus Genome polyprotein encoded by Open Reading Frame 1 (ORF1) is a crucial component of the Norwalk virus, which belongs to the family Caliciviridae. This virus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. The ORF1 polyprotein is a large precursor protein that undergoes proteolytic cleavage to produce several non-structural proteins essential for viral replication.
The ORF1 polyprotein of the Norwalk virus is approximately 200 kDa in size and is composed of six non-structural proteins:
N-terminal p48 protein (NS1-2): Involved in early stages of viral replication.
Nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase): Plays a role in viral RNA synthesis.
3A-like p22 protein (NS4): Similar to proteins found in other viruses, potentially involved in membrane modification.
Viral genome-linked VPg protein (NS5): Covalently linked to the viral RNA genome.
3C-like protease (NS6): Responsible for cleaving the ORF1 polyprotein.
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) (NS7): Essential for viral RNA replication .
The proteolytic processing of the ORF1 polyprotein is mediated by the virus-encoded cysteine proteinase. This process involves several cleavage sites, resulting in the production of mature non-structural proteins. The cleavage sites include Q330/G331, Q696/G697, E875/G876, E1008/A1009, and E1189/G1190 . Stable precursors during this process include p20VPg and ProPol, which are analogous to picornavirus proteins .
Studies have shown that the N-terminal protein of the ORF1 polyprotein colocalizes with the Golgi apparatus in host cells, leading to its disassembly. This interaction is crucial for viral replication and pathogenesis . The use of recombinant technology to express these proteins has facilitated detailed analysis of their functions and interactions.
| Cleavage Site | Position |
|---|---|
| Q330/G331 | N-terminal/NTPase junction |
| Q696/G697 | NTPase/p20 junction |
| E875/G876 | p20/VPg junction |
| E1008/A1009 | VPg/Protease junction |
| E1189/G1190 | Protease/RdRp junction |
KEGG: vg:1491970