Characterization of fusion determinants points to the involvement of three discrete regions of both E1 and E2 glycoproteins in the membrane fusion process of hepatitis C virus.

ABSTRACT: Infection of eukaryotic cells by enveloped viruses requires the merging of viral and cellular membranes. Highly specific viral surface glycoproteins, named fusion proteins, catalyze this reaction by overcoming inherent energy barriers. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an enveloped virus that belongs to the genus Hepacivirus of the family Flaviviridae. Little is known about the molecular events that mediate cell entry and membrane fusion for HCV, although significant progress has been made due to recent developments in infection assays. Here, using infectious HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp), we investigated the molecular basis of HCV membrane fusion. By searching for classical features of fusion peptides through the alignment of sequences from various HCV genotypes, we identified six regions of HCV E

SUBMITTER: Lavillette D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1951381 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature