The genotype 3-specific hepatitis C virus core protein residue phenylalanine 164 increases steatosis in an in vitro cellular model.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The prevalence and severity of liver steatosis are higher in patients infected with genotype 3 hepatitis C virus (HCV) than in patients infected with other genotypes. HCV core protein is known to affect lipid metabolism, inducing lipid droplet accumulation both in vitro and in vivo. An in vitro cellular model was used to investigate whether an HCV core protein with residues specific to genotype 3 increased this phenomenon.

Methods

Sequence comparisons for HCV core protein domain II, which is known to interact with lipid droplets, identified the phenylalanine (F) residue at position 164 as the only residue specific to genotype 3. The area covered by lipid droplets in sections of cells producing a wild-type genotype 1a HCV core protein was compared with tha

SUBMITTER: Hourioux C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2267372 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature