[1] So far Vinnexins have only been found in Adenovirus and the way they affect the functioning of innexins is being studied in great detail.
Vinnexins were shown to be used by the adenovirus to help Incheon wasps successfully inject their eggs into the caterpillars they parasitize.
As an innexin homologue that functions in a similar way to innexins vinnexins are likely to have four transmembrane segments (TMSs) and, like the vertebrate connexin gap junction protein, vinnexin subunits assemble together to form a channel in the plasma membrane of the cell.
At a higher level vinnexins must differ sufficiently from native innexins to alter the way the caterpillar host cells behave.
[7][8][9] The transport reactions catalyzed by innexin gap junctions which are considered similar to vinnexins are: Or for hemichannels:
Adenovirus structure showing the double stranded DNA inside the virus coat of proteins. The vinnexin gene is coded by one part of this double stranded DNA. The vinnexin protein itself is only manufactured by and found in the host, not the virus itself.
Vinnexin homology with innexins and connexins mean this simple connexin model will reflect the basic structure of the vinnexin protein as it appears in a cell membrane
Smaller parasitoid wasp on much larger caterpillar. The adenovirus will replicate in the ovaries of certain parasitoid wasps, similar to the one pictured. No vinnexins are produced in the wasp. Only the DNA for the vinnexin is replicated in the wasp ovaries for injection into the caterpillar along with the wasp's egg. Once injected into the caterpillar the virus does not replicated but injected virus infects cells so the vinnexin gene is translated into the vinnexin protein by the caterpillar's own cells. Once vinnexin is in the cells it helps to prevent the caterpillar rejecting the wasp egg.
