The RHDV genome is associated with the fully processed viral protein genome (VPg) at its terminus.

(A) A schematic diagram of the RHDV genome showing the genes encoding non-structural (NSP1-NSP7) and structural (VP60 and VP10) proteins. (B) The VPg protein interacted with RHDV 5′ -Extreme RNA, as determined by the RNA EMSA assay. Lane 1: negative control: VPg protein (2 μg) + labeled RHDV-NSP2 (6 nM); Lane 2: blank control: VPg protein (2 μg); Lane 3: negative control: labeled 5′ -Extreme RNA (6 nM); Lane 4: VPg protein (1 μg) + labeled 5′ -Extreme RNA (6 nM); Lane 5: VPg protein (2 μg) + labeled 5′ -Extreme RNA (6 nM); Lane 6: competition group: VPg protein (2 μg) + 5′ -Extreme RNA (6 nM) + labeled 5′ -Extreme RNA (6 nM).