hnRNP C and polypyrimidine tract-binding protein specifically interact with the pyrimidine-rich region within the 3'NTR of the HCV RNA genome.
Like other members of the Flaviviridae family, the 3' non-translated region (NTR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is believed to function in the initiation and regulation of viral RNA replication by interacting with components of the viral replicase complex. To inves-tigate the possibility that host components may also participate in this process, we used UV cross-linking assays to determine if any cellular proteins could bind specifically to the 3'NTR RNA. We demonstrate the specific interaction of two host proteins with the extensive pyrimidine-rich region within the HCV 3'NTR. One host protein migrates as a doublet with a molecular weight of 57 kDa and is immunoreactive with antisera specific for polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), and the other protein (35 kDa) is recognized by a monoclonal antibody specific for heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNP C). These results suggest that recognition of the large pyrimidine-rich region by PTB and hnRNP C may play a role in the initiation and/or regulation of HCV RNA replication.
Department of Molecular Virology, RNA Research Group, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 709 Swedeland Road, King of Prussia,PA 19406, USA. richard_r_gontarek@sbphrd.com
R R
RR
Gontarek
L L
LL
Gutshall
K M
KM
Herold
J
J
Tsai
G M
GM
Sathe
J
J
Mao
C
C
Prescott
A M
AM
Del Vecchio
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D001483:Base Sequence; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus; D018197:Hepatoblastoma; D034482:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group C; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D038941:Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein; D011485:Protein Binding; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D034482:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group C; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D038941:Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein