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Journal of Virology, February 2003, p. 2295-2300, Vol. 77, No. 3
0022-538X/03/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.77.3.2295-2300.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
In Vitro RNA Replication Directed by Replicase Complexes Isolated from the Subgenomic Replicon Cells of Hepatitis C Virus
Vicky C. H. Lai,* Shannon Dempsey, Johnson Y. N. Lau, Zhi Hong, and Weidong Zhong
Department of Drug Discovery, Research and Development, Ribapharm, Inc., Costa Mesa, California 92626
Received 26 August 2002/
Accepted 30 October 2002
Replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in virus-infected cells is believed to be catalyzed by viral replicase complexes (RCs), which may consist of various virally encoded nonstructural proteins and host factors. In this study, we characterized the RC activity of a crude membrane fraction isolated from HCV subgenomic replicon cells. The RC preparation was able to use endogenous replicon RNA as a template to synthesize both single-stranded (ss) and double-stranded (ds) RNA products. Divalent cations (Mg2+ and Mn2+) showed different effects on RNA synthesis. Mg2+ ions stimulated the synthesis of ss RNA but had little effect on the synthesis of ds RNA. In contrast, Mn2+ ions enhanced primarily the synthesis of ds RNA. Interestingly, ss RNA could be synthesized under certain conditions in the absence of ds RNA, and vice versa, suggesting that the ss and ds RNA were derived either from different forms of replicative intermediates or from different RCs. Pulse-chase analysis showed that radioactivity incorporated into the ss RNA was chased into the ds RNA and other larger RNA species. This observation indicated that the newly synthesized ss RNA could serve as a template for a further round of RNA synthesis. Finally, 3' deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates were able to inhibit RNA synthesis in this cell-free system, presumably through chain termination, with 3' dGTP having the highest potency. Establishment of the replicase assay will facilitate the identification and evaluation of potential inhibitors that would act against the entire RC of HCV.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Drug Discovery, Ribapharm, Inc., 3300 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Phone: (714) 545-0100, ext. 3302. Fax: (714) 668-3142. E-mail:
vlai{at}ribapharm.com.
Journal of Virology, February 2003, p. 2295-2300, Vol. 77, No. 3
0022-538X/03/$08.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.77.3.2295-2300.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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