Hepatitis C virus egress and release depend on endosomal trafficking of core protein.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) assembly is known to occur in juxtaposition to lipid droplets, but the mechanisms of nascent virion transport and release remain poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that HCV core protein targets to early and late endosomes but not to mitochondria or peroxisomes. Further, by employing inhibitors of early and late endosome motility in HCV-infected cells, we demonstrate that the movement of core protein to the early and late endosomes and virus production require an endosome-based secretory pathway. We also observed that this way is independent of that of the internalization of endocytosed virus particles during virus entry.
Lai
Chao-Kuen
CK
Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
Jeng
King-Song
KS
Machida
Keigo
K
Lai
Michael M C
MM
D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D021381:Protein Transport; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism; D053586:Virus Internalization; D057074:Virus Release
D014758:Viral Core Proteins