African swine fever (ASF) antigen

The ASFV protein p49, one of the minor capsid proteins, is involved in the formation of the outer capsid. The protein correlates with the formation of a complicated network below the outer capsid shell which can stabilize the whole capsid. The p49 is required for the formation of the capsid vertices and is located in close proximity to the capsid vertices. Additionally, p49, as an integral membrane protein, is not involved in particle transportation from the virus assembly sites to the plasma membrane, suggesting that it might be positioned at the inner shell of capsid. The ability of p49 to associate with membrane mediates the docking of the penton complex to the inner membrane, where it recruits capsomers to form the penton core, initiating the capsid assembly.