Binding of cellular nucleolin with the viral core RNA G-quadruplex structure suppresses HCV replication.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of human chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. G-quadruplex (G4) is an important four-stranded secondary structure of nucleic acids. Recently, we discovered that the core gene of HCV contains a G4 RNA structure; however, the interaction between the HCV core RNA G4 and host cellular proteins, and the roles of the HCV core RNA G4 in HCV infection and pathogenesis remain elusive. Here, we identified a cellular protein, nucleolin (NCL), which bound and stabilized the HCV core RNA G4 structure. We demonstrated the direct interaction and colocalization between NCL and wild-type core RNA G4 at both in vitro and in cell physiological conditions of the alive virus; however no significant interaction was found between NCL and G4-modifi

SUBMITTER: Bian WX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6326805 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature