| Structural highlights
Function
[POLG_HCVH] Core protein packages viral RNA to form a viral nucleocapsid, and promotes virion budding. Modulates viral translation initiation by interacting with HCV IRES and 40S ribosomal subunit. Also regulates many host cellular functions such as signaling pathways and apoptosis. Prevents the establishment of cellular antiviral state by blocking the interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) and IFN-gamma signaling pathways and by inducing human STAT1 degradation. Thought to play a role in virus-mediated cell transformation leading to hepatocellular carcinomas. Interacts with, and activates STAT3 leading to cellular transformation. May repress the promoter of p53, and sequester CREB3 and SP110 isoform 3/Sp110b in the cytoplasm. Also represses cell cycle negative regulating factor CDKN1A, thereby interrupting an important check point of normal cell cycle regulation. Targets transcription factors involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses and in the immune response: suppresses NK-kappaB activation, and activates AP-1. Could mediate apoptotic pathways through association with TNF-type receptors TNFRSF1A and LTBR, although its effect on death receptor-induced apoptosis remains controversial. Enhances TRAIL mediated apoptosis, suggesting that it might play a role in immune-mediated liver cell injury. Seric core protein is able to bind C1QR1 at the T-cell surface, resulting in down-regulation of T-lymphocytes proliferation. May transactivate human MYC, Rous sarcoma virus LTR, and SV40 promoters. May suppress the human FOS and HIV-1 LTR activity. Alters lipid metabolism by interacting with hepatocellular proteins involved in lipid accumulation and storage. Core protein induces up-regulation of FAS promoter activity, and thereby probably contributes to the increased triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes (steatosis) (By similarity).[1] E1 and E2 glycoproteins form a heterodimer that is involved in virus attachment to the host cell, virion internalization through clathrin-dependent endocytosis and fusion with host membrane. E1/E2 heterodimer binds to human LDLR, CD81 and SCARB1/SR-BI receptors, but this binding is not sufficient for infection, some additional liver specific cofactors may be needed. The fusion function may possibly be carried by E1. E2 inhibits human EIF2AK2/PKR activation, preventing the establishment of an antiviral state. E2 is a viral ligand for CD209/DC-SIGN and CLEC4M/DC-SIGNR, which are respectively found on dendritic cells (DCs), and on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and macrophage-like cells of lymph node sinuses. These interactions allow capture of circulating HCV particles by these cells and subsequent transmission to permissive cells. DCs act as sentinels in various tissues where they entrap pathogens and convey them to local lymphoid tissue or lymph node for establishment of immunity. Capture of circulating HCV particles by these SIGN+ cells may facilitate virus infection of proximal hepatocytes and lymphocyte subpopulations and may be essential for the establishment of persistent infection (By similarity).[2] P7 seems to be a heptameric ion channel protein (viroporin) and is inhibited by the antiviral drug amantadine (By similarity). Also inhibited by long-alkyl-chain iminosugar derivatives. Essential for infectivity.[3] Protease NS2-3 is a cysteine protease responsible for the autocatalytic cleavage of NS2-NS3. Seems to undergo self-inactivation following maturation (By similarity).[4] NS3 displays three enzymatic activities: serine protease, NTPase and RNA helicase. NS3 serine protease, in association with NS4A, is responsible for the cleavages of NS3-NS4A, NS4A-NS4B, NS4B-NS5A and NS5A-NS5B. NS3/NS4A complex also prevents phosphorylation of human IRF3, thus preventing the establishment of dsRNA induced antiviral state. NS3 RNA helicase binds to RNA and unwinds dsRNA in the 3' to 5' direction, and likely RNA stable secondary structure in the template strand (By similarity). Cleaves and inhibits the host antiviral protein MAVS.[5] NS4B induces a specific membrane alteration that serves as a scaffold for the virus replication complex. This membrane alteration gives rise to the so-called ER-derived membranous web that contains the replication complex. NS4B polymerization or in protein-protein interactions activity may contribute to its function in membranous web formation.[6] NS5A is a component of the replication complex involved in RNA-binding. Its interaction with Human VAPB may target the viral replication complex to vesicles. Down-regulates viral IRES translation initiation. Mediates interferon resistance, presumably by interacting with and inhibiting human EIF2AK2/PKR. Seems to inhibit apoptosis by interacting with BIN1 and FKBP8. The hyperphosphorylated form of NS5A is an inhibitor of viral replication (By similarity).[7] NS5B is a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that plays an essential role in the virus replication.[8]
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The NS3 protein of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a 631 amino acid residue bifunctional enzyme with a serine protease localized to the N-terminal 181 residues and an RNA helicase located in the C-terminal 450 residues. The HCV NS3 RNA helicase consists of three well-defined subdomains which all contribute to its helicase activity. The second subdomain of the HCV helicase is flexibly linked to the remainder of the NS3 protein and could undergo rigid-body movements during the unwinding of double-stranded RNA. It also contains several motifs that are implicated in RNA binding and in coupling NTP hydrolysis to nucleic acid unwinding and translocation. As part of our efforts to use NMR techniques to assist in deciphering the enzyme's structure-function relationships and developing specific small molecule inhibitors, we have determined the solution structure of an engineered subdomain 2 of the NS3 RNA helicase of HCV, d(2Delta)-HCVh, and studied the backbone dynamics of this protein by (15)N-relaxation experiments using a model-free approach. The NMR studies on this 142-residue construct reveal that overall subdomain 2 of the HCV helicase is globular and well structured in solution even in the absence of the remaining parts of the NS3 protein. Its solution structure is very similar to the corresponding parts in the X-ray structures of the HCV NS3 helicase domain and intact bifunctional HCV NS3 protein. Slow hydrogen-deuterium exchange rates map to a well-structured, stable hydrophobic core region away from the subdomain interfaces. In contrast, the regions facing the subdomain interfaces in the HCV NS3 helicase domain are less well structured in d(2Delta)-HCVh, show fast hydrogen-deuterium exchange rates, and the analysis of the dynamic properties of d(2Delta)-HCVh reveals that these regions of the protein show distinct dynamical features. In particular, residues in motif V, which may be involved in transducing allosteric effects of nucleotide binding and hydrolysis on RNA binding, exhibit slow conformational exchange on the milli- to microsecond time-scale. The intrinsic conformational flexibility of this loop region may facilitate conformational changes required for helicase function.
Solution structure and backbone dynamics of an engineered arginine-rich subdomain 2 of the hepatitis C virus NS3 RNA helicase.,Liu D, Wang YS, Gesell JJ, Wyss DF J Mol Biol. 2001 Nov 30;314(3):543-61. PMID:11846566[9]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Codran A, Royer C, Jaeck D, Bastien-Valle M, Baumert TF, Kieny MP, Pereira CA, Martin JP. Entry of hepatitis C virus pseudotypes into primary human hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2583-93. PMID:16894197 doi:87/9/2583
- ↑ Codran A, Royer C, Jaeck D, Bastien-Valle M, Baumert TF, Kieny MP, Pereira CA, Martin JP. Entry of hepatitis C virus pseudotypes into primary human hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2583-93. PMID:16894197 doi:87/9/2583
- ↑ Codran A, Royer C, Jaeck D, Bastien-Valle M, Baumert TF, Kieny MP, Pereira CA, Martin JP. Entry of hepatitis C virus pseudotypes into primary human hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2583-93. PMID:16894197 doi:87/9/2583
- ↑ Codran A, Royer C, Jaeck D, Bastien-Valle M, Baumert TF, Kieny MP, Pereira CA, Martin JP. Entry of hepatitis C virus pseudotypes into primary human hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2583-93. PMID:16894197 doi:87/9/2583
- ↑ Codran A, Royer C, Jaeck D, Bastien-Valle M, Baumert TF, Kieny MP, Pereira CA, Martin JP. Entry of hepatitis C virus pseudotypes into primary human hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2583-93. PMID:16894197 doi:87/9/2583
- ↑ Codran A, Royer C, Jaeck D, Bastien-Valle M, Baumert TF, Kieny MP, Pereira CA, Martin JP. Entry of hepatitis C virus pseudotypes into primary human hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2583-93. PMID:16894197 doi:87/9/2583
- ↑ Codran A, Royer C, Jaeck D, Bastien-Valle M, Baumert TF, Kieny MP, Pereira CA, Martin JP. Entry of hepatitis C virus pseudotypes into primary human hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2583-93. PMID:16894197 doi:87/9/2583
- ↑ Codran A, Royer C, Jaeck D, Bastien-Valle M, Baumert TF, Kieny MP, Pereira CA, Martin JP. Entry of hepatitis C virus pseudotypes into primary human hepatocytes by clathrin-dependent endocytosis. J Gen Virol. 2006 Sep;87(Pt 9):2583-93. PMID:16894197 doi:87/9/2583
- ↑ Liu D, Wang YS, Gesell JJ, Wyss DF. Solution structure and backbone dynamics of an engineered arginine-rich subdomain 2 of the hepatitis C virus NS3 RNA helicase. J Mol Biol. 2001 Nov 30;314(3):543-61. PMID:11846566 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jmbi.2001.5146
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