Molecular and structural characterization of the domain 2 of hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 5A

Mol Cells. 2006 Aug 31;22(1):13-20.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein 5A protein (NS5A), which consists of three functional domains, is involved in regulating viral replication, interferon resistance, and apoptosis. Recently, the three-dimensional structure of the domain 1 was determined. However, currently the molecular basis for the domains 2 and 3 of HCV NS5A is yet to be defined. Toward this end, we expressed, purified the domain 2 of the NS5A (NS5A-D2), and then performed biochemical and structural studies. The purified domain 2 was active and was able to bind NS5B and PKR, biological partners of NS5A. The results from gel filtration, CD analysis, 1D 1H NMR and 2D 1H-15N heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) spectroscopy indicate that the domain 2 of NS5A appears to be flexible and disordered.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Hepacivirus / chemistry*
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / chemistry*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus