VPg is a protein attached to the 5' end of RNA during RNA synthesis in a wide variety of viruses including Picornaviridae such as Foot-and-mouth disease and poliovirus . VPg stands for "viral protein genome-linked".

[edit] Attachment during RNA synthesis

3CDpro (a protease) cleaves VPg from membrane-bound 3AB. 3Dpol (picornavirus RNA polymerase) then synthesizes VPg-pUpU using the sequence AAACA from the cre (cis-acting replication element) of the template strand. The 3Dpol-VPg-pUpU complex then moves to the 3' poly(A) tail of the template strand and commences RNA synthesis using the pUpU sequence as a primer.

[edit] Sources

Principles of Virology by S.J. Flint, L.W. Enquist, V.R. Racaniello, A.M. Skalka (ISBN 1-55581-259-7)

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