title: Hepatitis C virus f protein is a short-lived protein associated with the endoplasmic reticulum.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) F protein is a newly discovered HCV gene product that is expressed by translational ribosomal frameshift. Little is known about the biological properties of this protein. By performing pulse-chase labeling experiments, we demonstrate here that the F protein is a labile protein with a half-life of <10 min in Huh7 hepatoma cells and in vitro. The half-life of the F protein could be substantially increased by proteasome inhibitors, suggesting that the rapid degradation of the F protein is mediated by the proteasome pathway. Further immunofluorescence staining and subcellular fractionation experiments indicate that the F protein is primarily associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. This subcellular localization is similar to those of HCV core and NS5A proteins, raising the possibility that the F protein may participate in HCV morphogenesis or replication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033-1054, USA.
authors.forename: Zhenming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jinah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jing-hsiung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ou
mesh_terms: D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006207:Half-Life; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins