Journal of Virology · 2004 · 131 citations · 25 references
Life SciencesBiochemistryMolecular BiologyMolecular VirologyRna BiologyVirologyAntiviral TherapyNucleic Acid-protein InteractionsViral GeneticsViral HepatitisViral Rna BiologyViral StructureHepatitis C InfectionHepatitis C Virus ReplicationNucleotide Binding DomainsNucleotide-binding MotifRna Virus BiologyStructural Motif AnalysisStructural Motif IdentificationViral Rna Structure
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of viral hepatitis. There is no effective therapy for most patients. We have identified a nucleotide binding motif (NBM) in one of the virus's nonstructural proteins, NS4B. This structural motif binds and hydrolyzes GTP and is conserved across HCV isolates. Genetically disrupting the NBM impairs GTP binding and hydrolysis and dramatically inhibits HCV RNA replication. These results have exciting implications for the HCV life cycle and novel antiviral strategies.
25