Intracellular localization of NS3 and C proteins in chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

In conclusion, the new aspect in present studies involved localization of C and NS3 proteins at the levels of light and electron microscopy in children. For the first time also intramitochondrial localization of NS3 protein was demonstrated.

Ultrastructural Localization of Hepatitis C Virus Positive and Negative Strand Rna and Proteins in Hepatocytes of a Rhesus Monkey (Macaca Mulatta)

“…Our results are in accordance with previous studies that detected HCV proteins in human and chimpanzee liver biopsies (Barba et al 1997, Falcón et al 2003, Kasprzak et al 2005 and in genetically modified cell systems expressing subgenomic HCV replicons (Egger et al 2002, Mottola et al 2002.…”

“…We observed the core protein also on the outer membrane of mitochondria, as described by Kasprzak et al (2005), Okuda et al (2002) and Schwer et al (2004). It has been suggested that the localization of HCV core protein on mitochondria would be a good position to encapsidate HCV RNA released from the replication complex and that core protein may alterate the mitochondrial function, changing the cellular physiology to favor viral replication (Schwer et al 2004).…”

Viral and therapeutic control of IFN-β promoter stimulator 1 during hepatitis C virus infection

“…The mechanism by which NS3͞4A targets IPS-1 on the mitochondrial membrane is not yet known. Recent studies show that only a portion of total nonstructural proteins associate with the HCV replicase (26) and that NS3͞4A can independently localize to the mitochondria (27), supporting roles for it both in viral replication and host defense regulation.…”

The Conundrum of Relapse in STAT-C Therapy: Does HCV Play the Red Queen or Rip Van Winkle?

“…33,[35][36][37][38] Ultrastructural changes are also described in human liver samples. [39][40][41][42] The membranous web likely consists of invaginations of the ER membrane that have also been described as a cluster of vesicles of heterogeneous size and morphology, 35,43 further identified as having double or multiple membranes. 44 Although structural features remain unclear and classical models of these replication sites provide access to the cytosol to facilitate influx of nucleotides and other factors required for RNA replication as well as escape of nascent RNA molecules for translation or assembly, evidence from related viruses suggests at least part of the architecture may include a ''closed'' vesicle.…”