NS2 protein of hepatitis C virus interacts with structural and non-structural proteins towards virus assembly.

ABSTRACT: Growing experimental evidence indicates that, in addition to the physical virion components, the non-structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are intimately involved in orchestrating morphogenesis. Since it is dispensable for HCV RNA replication, the non-structural viral protein NS2 is suggested to play a central role in HCV particle assembly. However, despite genetic evidences, we have almost no understanding about NS2 protein-protein interactions and their role in the production of infectious particles. Here, we used co-immunoprecipitation and/or fluorescence resonance energy transfer with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy analyses to study the interactions between NS2 and the viroporin p7 and the HCV glycoprotein E2. In addition, we used alanine scanning insertion mutagenes

SUBMITTER: Popescu CI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3037360 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature