title: Subcellular localization, stability, and trans-cleavage competence of the hepatitis C virus NS3-NS4A complex expressed in tetracycline-regulated cell lines.
abstract: A tetracycline-regulated gene expression system and a panel of novel monoclonal antibodies were used to examine the subcellular localization, stability, and trans-cleavage competence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A complex in inducible cell lines. The NS3 serine protease domain and the full-length NS3 protein expressed in the absence of the NS4A cofactor were diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Coexpression of NS4A, however, directed NS3 to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or an ER-like modified compartment, as demonstrated by colocalization with 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide, protein disulfide isomerase, and calnexin, as well as subcellular fractionation analyses. In addition, coexpression with NS4A dramatically increased the intracellular stability of NS3 (mean protein half-life of 26 versus 3 h) and allowed for NS4A-dependent trans-cleavage at the NS4B-NS5A junction. Deletion analyses revealed that the hydrophobic amino-terminal domain of NS4A was required for ER targeting of NS3. These results demonstrate the importance of studying HCV proteins in their biological context and define a well-characterized cell culture system for further analyses of the NS3-NS4A complex and the evaluation of novel antiviral strategies against hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University of Freiburg, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wölk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sansonno
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kräusslich
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dammacco
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moradpour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000821:virology; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000821:virology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000378:metabolism; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000821:virology; D013752:Tetracycline; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003470:Culture Media; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D013752:Tetracycline; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases; C093542:NS4 protein, hepatitis C virus