[Replication of hepatitis C virus genome].
The studies on the mechanism of HCV replication proliferated after the development of cell culture based-subgenomic HCV replicon system and genome-length HCV RNA replication system. Furthermore, these RNA replication systems have been improved to be suitable systems for the screening of anti-HCV reagents by the introduction of reporter genes such as luciferase. Genetic analysis of HCV RNAs obtained in long-term cell culture of HCV replicon or genome-length HCV RNA-harboring cells revealed that genetic mutations in HCV RNAs accumulated in a time-dependent manner. The genetic diversity of HCVs was also enlarged in a time-dependent manner. The appearance of adaptive mutation in HCV replicon or genome-length HCV RNA is one of characteristic features of HCV RNA replication system. Although human hepatoma-derived HuH-7 cell line was mainly used for HCV RNA replication systems, a specific combination of adaptive mutations led to develop the HCV RNA replication systems using a new human hepatoma cell line other than HuH-7.
Kato
Nobuyuki
N
Department of Tumor Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. nkato@md.okayama-u.ac.jp
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases; D009154:Mutation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012093:Replicon / Q000235:genetics; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*
D012367:RNA, Viral; D008156:Luciferases