Science, Vol.272, No.5258, 101-104, 1996
Age-Dependent Diarrhea Induced by a Rotaviral Nonstructural Glycoprotein
The rotavirus nonstructural glycoprotein NSP4 is an intracellular receptor that mediates the acquisition of a transient membrane envelope as subviral particles bud into the endoplasmic reticulum. NSP4 also causes an increase in intracellular calcium in insect cells. Purified NSP4 or a peptide corresponding to NSP4 residues 114 to 135 induced diarrhea in young (6 to 10 days old) CD1 mice. This disease response was age-dependent, dose-dependent, and specific. Electrophysiologic data from intestinal mucosa showed that the NSP4 114-135 peptide potentiates chloride secretion by a calcium-dependent signaling pathway. Diarrhea is induced when NSP4, acting as a viral enterotoxin, triggers a signal transduction pathway.
Keywords:HEAT-STABLE ENTEROTOXIN;ESCHERICHIA-COLI;GUANYLATE-CYCLASE;MURINE ROTAVIRUS;GNOTOBIOTIC PIGS;PATHOGENESIS;INFECTION;MICE;SITES;SEQUENCE