title: Hepatitis C virus assembly imaging.
abstract: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) assembly process is the least understood step in the virus life cycle. The functional data revealed by forward and reverse genetics indicated that both structural and non-structural proteins are involved in the assembly process. Using confocal and electron microscopy different groups determined the subcellular localization of different viral proteins and they identified the lipid droplets (LDs) as the potential viral assembly site. Here, we aim to review the mechanisms that govern the viral proteins recruitment to LDs and discuss the current model of HCV assembly process. Based on previous examples, this review will also discuss advanced imaging techniques as potential means to extend our present knowledge of HCV assembly process.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, The Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei 296, 060031 Bucharest 17, Romania. pop@biochim.ro
authors.forename: Costin-Ioan
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rouillé
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dubuisson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins