RNA-directed RNA polymerase (VP1) (VP1)

Rotavirus VP1 is the RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the rotavirus, which is a primary cause of severe, dehydrating gastroenteritis in infants and young children (UniProt, ICTV). This enzyme is a structural protein located within the viral core and is responsible for both the transcription of viral mRNA and the replication of the 11 segments of the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome (PubMed, NIH). VP1 activity is strictly regulated and requires association with the inner capsid protein VP2 to initiate RNA synthesis (PubMed). During infection, VP1 produces capped, non-polyadenylated positive-strand RNAs that are extruded into the cytoplasm for translation or used as templates for minus-strand synthesis to form new dsRNA genomes (NIH). Given its central role in the viral life cycle, Rotavirus VP1 is considered a high-priority therapeutic target for antiviral drug development (PubMed). Although no specific small-molecule antivirals are currently approved for rotavirus, several compounds such as favipiravir, ribavirin, and various nucleoside analogs have demonstrated the ability to inhibit VP1-mediated RNA synthesis in vitro (PubMed, NIH). These inhibitors typically function by mimicking natural nucleotides to cause chain termination or by directly blocking the polymerase's catalytic site (PubMed). Therapeutic challenges include the significant genetic diversity among rotavirus genotypes and the necessity for safe, effective treatments in the vulnerable pediatric population (PubMed).

Other names

Protein VP1RdRpRNA-dependent RNA polymeraseRDRP_ROTHWGene 1 protein

Inhibition of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, leading to the suppression of viral transcription and genome replication.