title: Identification of a novel protein binding to hepatitis C virus core protein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is a multi-functional viral protein that interacts with several target proteins of both viral and cellular origin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To gain insight into the mechanism of action of HCV core protein, we used a yeast two-hybrid system to identify the core protein-interacting cellular targets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A cDNA clone encoding an aspartoacylase was obtained, termed aspartoacylase 3 (ACY3). Interaction between ACY3 and HCV core protein was verified using a co-immunoprecipitation assay in vitro, and a mammalian two-hybrid system in vivo. Fluorescence microscopy showed green fluorescence protein-fused ACY3 localized in the cytoplasm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that ACY3 is an HCV core binding protein, which may play a role in the development of HCV-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Yun-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tian-Yan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shu-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying-Ren
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Shuang-Suo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D000581:Amidohydrolases; C019751:aspartoacylase