Serine Phosphorylation of the Hepatitis C Virus NS5A Protein Controls the Establishment of Replication Complexes

Abstract

The mechanisms by which hepatitis C virus replicates its RNA genome remain poorly characterized. We show here that phosphorylation of the viral nonstructural protein NS5A at serine residues is important for the efficient assembly of a complex that is able to replicate the viral genome. This research implicates cellular protein kinases in the control of virus replication and highlights the need to further understand the interplay between the virus and the host cell in order to develop potential avenues for future antiviral therapy.