Spike-forming protein that mediates virion attachment to the host epithelial cell receptors and plays a major role in cell penetration, determination of host range restriction and virulence. Rotavirus attachment and entry into the host cell probably involves multiple sequential contacts between the outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7, and the cell receptors. It is subsequently lost, together with VP7, following virus entry into the host cell. Following entry into the host cell, low intracellular or intravesicular Ca(2+) concentration probably causes the calcium-stabilized VP7 trimers to dissociate from the virion. This step is probably necessary for the membrane-disrupting entry step and the release of VP4, which is locked onto the virion by VP7. During the virus exit from the host cell, VP4 seems to be required to target the newly formed virions to the host cell lipid rafts. Forms the spike 'foot' and 'body' and acts as a membrane permeabilization protein that mediates release of viral particles from endosomal compartments into the cytoplasm. During entry, the part of VP5* that protrudes from the virus folds back on itself and reorganizes from a local dimer to a trimer. This reorganization may be linked to membrane penetration by exposing VP5* hydrophobic region. In integrin-dependent strains, VP5* targets the integrin heterodimer ITGA2/ITGB1 for cell attachment. Forms the head of the spikes and mediates the recognition of specific host cell surface glycans. It is the viral hemagglutinin and an important target of neutralizing antibodies. In sialic acid-dependent strains, VP8* binds to host cell sialic acid, most probably a ganglioside, providing the initial contact. In some other strains, VP8* mediates the attachment to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) for viral entry. Homotrimer. VP4 adopts a dimeric appearance above the capsid surface, while forming a trimeric base anchored inside the capsid layer. Only hints of the third molecule are observed above the capsid surface. It probably performs a series of molecular rearrangements during viral entry. Prior to trypsin cleavage, it is flexible. The priming trypsin cleavage triggers its rearrangement into rigid spikes with approximate two-fold symmetry of their protruding parts. After an unknown second triggering event, cleaved VP4 may undergo another rearrangement, in which two VP5* subunits fold back on themselves and join a third subunit to form a tightly associated trimer, shaped like a folded umbrella. Interacts with VP6. Interacts with VP7. Homotrimer. The trimer is coiled-coil stabilized by its C-terminus, however, its N-terminus, known as antigen domain or 'body', seems to be flexible allowing it to self-associate either as a dimer or a trimer. The outer layer contains 180 copies of VP4, grouped as 60 dimers. Immature double-layered particles assembled in the cytoplasm bud across the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, acquiring during this process a transient lipid membrane that is modified with the ER resident viral glycoproteins NSP4 and VP7; these enveloped particles also contain VP4. As the particles move towards the interior of the ER cisternae, the transient lipid membrane and the non-structural protein NSP4 are lost, while the virus surface proteins VP4 and VP7 rearrange to form the outermost virus protein layer, yielding mature infectious triple-layered particles. VP4 also seems to associate with lipid rafts of the host cell membrane probably for the exit of the virus from the infected cell by an alternate pathway. Outer capsid protein. Outer capsid protein. The VP4 spike is divided into a foot, a stalk and body, and a head. Proteolytic cleavage by trypsin results in activation of VP4 functions and greatly increases infectivity. The penetration into the host cell is dependent on trypsin treatment of VP4. It produces two peptides, VP5* and VP8* that remain associated with the virion. Cleavage of VP4 by trypsin probably occurs in vivo in the lumen of the intestine prior to infection of enterocytes. Trypsin seems to be incorporated into the three-layered viral particles but remains inactive as long as the viral outer capsid is intact and would only be activated upon the solubilization of the latter. This strain probably does not use sialic acid to attach to the host cell. In group A rotaviruses, VP4 defines the P serotype. Some rotavirus strains are neuraminidase-sensitive and require sialic acid to attach to the cell surface. Some rotavirus strains are integrin-dependent. Some rotavirus strains depend on ganglioside for their entry into the host cell. Hsp70 also seems to be involved in the entry of some strains. Belongs to the rotavirus VP4 family.