title: Hepatitis C virus p7: molecular function and importance in hepatitis C virus life cycle and potential antiviral target.
abstract: p7, a 63-residue peptide encoded by hepatitis C virus (HCV), a major pathogen associated with a risk of developing severe liver disease, is involved in ion channel activity in lipid bilayer membranes both in in vitro and cell-based assays. p7 protein consists of two transmembrane α-helices, TM1 and TM2 connected by a loop oriented towards the cytoplasm. HCV relies on p7 function in addition to ion channel formation for efficient assembly, release and production of infectious progeny virions from liver cells. p7 activity is strictly sequence specific as mutation analysis showed the loss of ion channel function. Moreover, p7 ion channel activity can be specifically inhibited by different drugs suggesting the protein as a new target for future antiviral chemotherapy. In the present review, we focused to bring together the recent development to explore the potential role of p7 protein in HCV infection and its inhibition as a therapy.
authors: Functional and Applied Genomics Laboratory, National Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. sabahat711@yahoo.com
authors: Saba
authors: S
authors: Khaliq
authors: Shah
authors: S
authors: Jahan
authors: Sajida
authors: S
authors: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007473:Ion Channels; D014764:Viral Proteins; C088369:p7 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins