Nonstructural (NS) protein 3 is a DEXH/D-box motor protein that is an essential component of the hepatitis C viral (HCV)replicative complex. The full-length NS3 protein contains two functional modules, both of which are essential in the life cycle of HCV: a serine protease domain at the N terminus and an ATPase/helicase domain (NS3hel) at the C terminus. Truncated NS3hel constructs have been studied extensively; the ATPase, nucleic acid binding, and helicase activities have been examined and NS3hel has been used as a target in the development of antivirals. However, a comprehensive comparison of NS3 and NS3hel activities has not been performed, so it remains unclear whether the protease domain plays a vital role in NS3 helicase function. Given that many DEXH/D-box proteins are activated upon interaction with cofactor proteins, it is important to establish if the protease domain acts as the cofactor for stimulating NS3 helicase function. Here we show that the protease domain greatly enhances both the direct and functional binding of RNA to NS3. Whereas electrostatics plays an important role in this process, there is a specific allosteric contribution from the interaction interface between NS3hel and the protease domain. Most importantly, we establish that the protease domain is required for RNA unwinding by NS3. Our results suggest that, in addition to its role in cleavage of host and viral proteins, the NS3 protease domain is essential for the process of viral RNA replication and, given its electrostatic contribution to RNA binding, it may also assist in packaging of the viral RNA.
Nonstructural protein (NS3)3 is an essential component of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication complex. It is a nucleic acid-stimulated ATPase and DEXH/D-box protein that is structurally similar to other DNA and RNA helicases from the phylogenetically conserved superfamily 2. Like these relatives, NS3 contains two RecA fold domains (domains 1 and 2) that comprise the ATPase site and the platform for RNA binding, which is supplemented by domain 3, which sits atop D1 and D2 (1). The three-lobed triangle comprised of D1-D3 is considered the "helicase" of NS3 (NS3hel), and it has been studied extensively in isolation (2-5). However, the full-length NS3 protein differs from other SF2 helicases in that it possesses a fourth domain at the N terminus that displays robust serine protease activity (the protease domain) (6, 7). This protease domain is located at the vertices of D1-D3, in an ideal location to influence the catalytic activities of the helicase region.NS3 serine protease activity is crucial for cleaving the viral polyprotein into individual, nonstructural (NS) proteins. It also facilitates viral pathogenicity by cleaving host proteins and down-regulating the innate immune response of the cell (7, 8). NS3 helicase activity may be required to assist the viral polymerase during replication of the HCV RNA genome. NS3 may unwind complex RNA structures within the genome, whereas the NS5B viral polymerase copies the RNA (9). There may ...