Innate form of HCV core protein plays an important role in the localization and the function of HCV core protein.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has been identified as the major causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis. Core protein is not only a capsid protein of HCV but also a regulator of cellular functions, and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HCV. Core protein is produced as an innate form (amino acids [a.a.] 1-191), and following processing produces a mature form (a.a. 1-173). This study demonstrates that the innate form regulates subcellular localization of the mature form, and that the innate form in the cytoplasm enhances p21 expression; on the other hand, the mature form in the nucleus suppresses p21 expression. These observations suggest that the innate form is not only a precursor of the mature form but also a regulator of the localization and functions of core protein.
Yamanaka
Takayuki
T
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Uchida
Masao
M
Doi
Takefumi
T
D002460:Cell Line; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D021381:Protein Transport; D014162:Transfection; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus