Characterization of the nuclear localization signal and subcellular distribution of hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein NS5A.

摘要: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a positive strand RNA genome that codes for polyprotein is processed co-translationally and post-translationally into three structural at least seven nonstructural (NS) proteins. To investigate the function of NS5A, recombinant vaccinia was constructed in which NS5A gene cloned under control T7 promoter encephalomyocarditis 5′-untranslated region (EMCV-UTR) cap-independent translation mammalian cells. In addition, also cytomegalovirus (CMV) early promoter. The expressed monkey kidney (CV-1) cells located predominantly cytoplasm. Using immunohistochemical analysis, subcellular distribution liver biopsy samples from chronic HCV-infected patients found to be However, protein stretch positively charged domain vicinity proline valine residues, (PPRKKRTVV), characteristic nuclear localization signal (NLS), COOH-terminal half protein. whether putative NLS functional, chimeric expression plasmids were regions containing fused N-terminus E. coli β-galactosidase (E. β-Gal). fusion proteins CV-1 resulted their localization, indicating functional targeting heterologous protein, β-Gal, nucleus, although native retained