title: Characterization of a HCV NS5A protein derived from a patient with hepatoma.
abstract: A cDNA encoding hepatitis C virus NS5A protein was isolated from the serum of a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. The NS5A(HCC) was localized in both the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of Huh-7 cells. Immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis experiments showed four major phosphorylated species of NS5A(HCC), p58, p56, p53, and p50. Two mutants (NS5A(HCC-NLSmt) and NS5A(HCC-TSmt)) carrying mutations on the putative nuclear localization signal were engineered. NS5A(HCC-NLSmt) was localized exclusively in the cytoplasm, whereas some forms of NS5A(HCC-TSmt) can be transported into the nucleus. These NS5A(HCC) mutant proteins were capable of transactivating c-fos and SV40 promoters. However, the transactivation efficiency was not dependent on its capability of nuclear localization. Subsequently, interaction between NS5A(HCC) mutants and Grb2 was studied. While capable of transactivating oncogenic promoters, NS5A(HCC-TSmt) could not interact with Grb2. Our results suggested that other cytosolic pathways independent of Grb2-mediated mechanisms were involved in the transactivation activity of HCV NS5A.
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. chauting@adm.cgmh.org.tw <chauting@adm.cgmh.org.tw>
authors.forename: Chau-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Mei-Huei
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wei-Chu
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: Ming-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Po-Yi
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Hsin-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D051380:GRB2 Adaptor Protein; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C495948:GRB2 protein, human; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase