Capsid Protein VP72 (African swine fever virus, ASFV) (rec.)

p72 protein with a relative molecular weight of 73.2 kDa is the major structural protein of ASFV, and it is the crucial antigenic protein encoded by the gene B646L (VP72). p72 with its highly antigenic and immunogenic character serves as the major component of viral icosahedrons. It is very important in forming the viral capsid in late stage expression of virus infection. Newly synthesised p72 is distributed evenly between a soluble cytoplasmic pool and a membrane-associated pool bound to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and assembles on the ER membrane to form the large capsid or matrix precursor.