脂肪分化相关蛋白的研究进展

细胞内脂滴是一种代谢活跃的细胞器,脂滴表面蛋白在脂滴的代谢调节中起到了重要作用。ADRP是一种重要的脂滴表面蛋白,在机体组织和细胞内广泛表达。脂肪肝、动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病等均伴随脂质的异常蓄积,近年来的研究表明ADRP参与这些疾病的发生发展。本文就ADRP在各组织和器官正常的生理功能以及对疾病状态的调控加以综述。     

Expression of Structural Protein E2 of Hepatitis C Virus

Introduction HepatitisCvirus(HCV)isanRNAvirusthatcausesacuteor chronichepatitis,cirrhosis,andhepatocellularcarcinoma(HCC)[1,2].DespiterecentadvancesinthetherapyofHCV,eventhemostrecent combinationofpegylatedalpha-interferonandribavirinfailstoelimi nateinfectioninnearly50%ofthoseinfected[3,4].Nowadays,itis wellknownthatvaccineisstillthemostefficientwaystopreventvirus infection[5].Thestudyingofviralvaccinehasbeenhamperedbythe lackofanefficientcellculturesystem.Asaenvelopeglycoprotein,E2prot…     

Species-Specific Regions of Occludin Required by Hepatitis C Virus for Cell Entry

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver disease worldwide. As HCV infects only human and chimpanzee cells, antiviral therapy and vaccine development have been hampered by the lack of a convenient small-animal model. In this study we further investigate how the species tropism of HCV is modulated at the level of cell entry. It has been previously determined that the tight junction protein occludin (OCLN) is essential for HCV host cell entry and that human OCLN is more efficient than the mouse ortholog at mediating HCV cell entry. To further investigate the relationship between OCLN sequence and HCV species tropism, we compared OCLN proteins from a range of species for their ability to mediate infection of naturally OCLN-deficient 786-O cells with lentiviral pseudoparticles bearing the HCV glycoproteins. While primate sequences function equivalently to human OCLN, canine, hamster, and rat OCLN had intermediate activities, and guinea pig OCLN was completely nonfunctional. Through analysis of chimeras between these OCLN proteins and alanine scanning mutagenesis of the extracellular domains of OCLN, we identified the second half of the second extracellular loop (EC2) and specific amino acids within this domain to be critical for modulating the HCV cell entry factor activity of this protein. Furthermore, this critical region of EC2 is flanked by two conserved cysteine residues that are essential for HCV cell entry, suggesting that a subdomain of EC2 may be defined by a disulfide bond.Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, is the causative agent of classically defined non-A, non-B hepatitis and is highly prevalent, with approximately 3% of the worldwide population infected (48). HCV infection often results in a chronic, life-long infection that can have severe health consequences, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. There is no HCV vaccine available, and the currently employed interferon-based treatment is inadequate as it has severe side effects and is effective only in half of the major genotype-infected individuals (22, 32). Specific anti-HCV inhibitors targeting the viral proteases and polymerase are currently being developed and will likely improve therapeutic options substantially. Undoubtedly, however, the emergence of viral resistance to such inhibitors will be a problem facing future HCV treatment options. As such, developing a spectrum of inhibitors targeting diverse steps in the virus life cycle, including HCV cell entry, is a priority for HCV research. Such inhibitors may be particularly useful following liver transplantation. Although HCV is the leading cause of liver transplants worldwide (10), the usefulness of such procedures is limited by subsequent universal graft reinfection and often accelerated disease progression (21). Even transiently inhibiting graft reinfection with HCV cell entry inhibitors could greatly improve the effectiveness of this procedure. Therefore, a greater understanding of HCV cell entry is required for the development of therapies targeting this stage of the viral life cycle.HCV host cell entry is a complex process that culminates in the clathrin-dependent endocytosis of the virion and low-pH-mediated fusion of viral and cellular lipid membranes in an early endosome (9, 12, 26, 27, 36, 51). The entry process requires the two viral envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, and many cellular factors, including glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) (3, 27), lipoproteins, the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) (1, 38-40), tetraspanin CD81 (43), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) (47), and two tight junction proteins, claudin-1 (CLDN1) (17) and occludin (OCLN) (31, 44). The polarized nature of hepatocytes and the tight junction roles of OCLN and CLDN1 suggest an entry pathway similar to that of the group B coxsackieviruses, where the virion initially binds readily accessible factors that then provide a mechanism for migration of the virion into the tight junction region, just prior to internalization (14). Indeed, cellular factors are utilized by the incoming HCV virion in a temporal manner. At least GAGs and LDL-R appear to mediate virion binding (1, 3, 27, 38-40). Conflicting evidence has shown that SR-BI acts as either a binding (11) or postbinding entry factor (53), while CD81 (7, 13, 17, 27) and CLDN1 (17, 29) play postbinding roles in the HCV cell entry process. Although the kinetics of OCLN usage have not been clearly defined, this protein does not appear to play a role in virion binding (6). However, recent data showing that CD81 and CLDN1 may form complexes prior to infection (15, 24, 25, 28, 29, 35, 52) and imaging of the cell entry process (12) may contradict such a model.Human hepatocytes are the major target for HCV infection. While multiple blocks at a number of viral life cycle stages likely exist in other cell types, cell entry is one of the events limiting HCV tropism (45). Although species differences in SR-BI and CLDN1 may exert some influence on this selectivity (11, 23), CD81 and OCLN appear to be largely responsible for the restriction of HCV entry to cells from human and chimpanzee origin (7, 8, 20, 44). In fact, overexpression of the human versions of CD81 and OCLN, along with either mouse or human SR-BI and CLDN1, renders a mouse cell able to support HCV cell entry (44).We sought to provide greater insight into the species-specific restrictions of HCV cell entry and to elucidate the mechanism by which OCLN acts to mediate HCV cell entry. We examined the ability of OCLN proteins from a range of species to mediate HCV cell entry and how this function correlated with the degree of similarity to the human protein. A six-amino-acid portion of the second extracellular loop (EC2) of human OCLN was found to be responsible for the species-specific differences in entry factor function. OCLN proteins that were less functional than the human protein could be rendered fully functional by adding the human residues at these positions. Conversely, the ability of the human OCLN protein to mediate HCV cell entry was impaired by swapping this region with the corresponding sequence from species with less functional OCLN proteins. Comprehensive alanine scanning of the extracellular loops of human OCLN confirmed that the second half of EC2 was most important for the HCV cell entry process. Two cysteine residues that flank this region were found to be essential for HCV cell entry, suggesting that these residues may define a disulfide-linked subdomain of EC2. None of these amino acid changes influenced OCLN expression or localization, implying that they may serve to modulate an interaction with either another host protein or the incoming HCV virion.     

The Tight Junction-Associated Protein Occludin Is Required for a Postbinding Step in Hepatitis C Virus Entry and Infection

The precise mechanisms regulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into hepatic cells remain unknown. However, several cell surface proteins have been identified as entry factors for this virus. Of these molecules, claudin-1, a tight junction (TJ) component, is considered a coreceptor required for HCV entry. Recently, we have demonstrated that HCV envelope glycoproteins (HCVgp) promote structural and functional TJ alterations. Additionally, we have shown that the intracellular interaction between viral E2 glycoprotein and occludin, another TJ-associated protein, could be the cause of the mislocalization of TJ proteins. Herein we demonstrated, by using cell culture-derived HCV particles (HCVcc), that interference of occludin expression markedly reduced HCV infection. Furthermore, our results with HCV pseudotyped particles indicated that occludin, but not other TJ-associated proteins, such as junctional adhesion molecule A or zonula occludens protein 1, was required for HCV entry. Using HCVcc, we demonstrated that occludin did not play an essential role in the initial attachment of HCV to target cells. Surface protein labeling experiments showed that both expression levels and cell surface localization of HCV (co)receptors CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I, and claudin-1 were not affected upon occludin knockdown. In addition, immunofluorescence confocal analysis showed that occludin interference did not affect subcellular distribution of the HCV (co)receptors analyzed. However, HCVgp fusion-associated events were altered after occludin silencing. In summary, we propose that occludin plays an essential role in HCV infection and probably affects late entry events. This observation may provide new insights into HCV infection and related pathogenesis.Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small enveloped positive-strand RNA virus that belongs to the Flaviviridae family (20). More than 80% of acute infections become chronic, which eventually progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (28). HCV infects mainly hepatocytes, but the precise mechanisms of infection are largely unknown (11). The HCV particle consists of a nucleocapsid surrounded by a lipid bilayer in which the two envelope glycoproteins (HCVgp), E1 and E2, are anchored as a heterodimer and play a major role in HCV entry (20). The development of an infectious cell culture model based on the production of infective HCV particles (cell culture-derived HCV particles [HCVcc]) (34) and the generation of HCV pseudotyped retroviral particles (HCVpp) (4) have provided powerful tools to study the HCV cycle. HCV entry is a complex multistep process that requires the presence of several factors. There are multiple pieces of evidence for the involvement of host cell proteins in HCV entry, including glycosaminoglycans, the low-density lipoprotein receptor, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), and the tetraspanin CD81 (11). Recently, claudin-1, a tight junction (TJ) component, has been identified as a coreceptor required for a late step in HCV entry (13).TJs are major components of cell-cell adhesion complexes and are composed of integral membrane proteins, including occludin and claudins, which associate with actin cytoskeleton-interacting proteins, such as zonula occludens protein 1 (ZO-1) (2). These structures maintain cell polarity, separating apical from basolateral membrane domains, and form a paracellular barrier that allows the selective passage of certain solutes (2). In hepatocytes, TJs seal the bile canaliculi and form the intercellular barrier between bile and blood (12). Recently, we have shown that TJ-associated proteins occludin and claudin-1 disappeared from their normal localization in both HCV-infected and genomic HCV replicon-containing Huh7 cells. Furthermore, TJ function was also altered in these cells (5). In this matter, we have reported an intracellular interaction between E2 and occludin (5). Moreover, it has been reported that claudin-1 and several TJ-associated proteins, such as coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (35) and junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) (3), act as virus (co)receptors. Since coxsackievirus entry across epithelial TJs requires occludin (10), we have explored the role of occludin in HCV infection.     

Temporal Analysis of Hepatitis C Virus Cell Entry with Occludin Directed Blocking Antibodies

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. A better understanding of its life cycle, including the process of host cell entry, is important for the development of HCV therapies and model systems. Based on the requirement for numerous host factors, including the two tight junction proteins claudin-1 (CLDN1) and occludin (OCLN), HCV cell entry has been proposed to be a multi-step process. The lack of OCLN-specific inhibitors has prevented a comprehensive analysis of this process. To study the role of OCLN in HCV cell entry, we created OCLN mutants whose HCV cell entry activities could be inhibited by antibodies. These mutants were expressed in polarized HepG2 cells engineered to support the complete HCV life cycle by CD81 and miR-122 expression and synchronized infection assays were performed to define the kinetics of HCV cell entry. During these studies, OCLN utilization differences between HCV isolates were observed, supporting a model that HCV directly interacts with OCLN. In HepG2 cells, both HCV cell entry and tight junction formation were impaired by OCLN silencing and restored by expression of antibody regulatable OCLN mutant. Synchronized infection assays showed that glycosaminoglycans and SR-BI mediated host cell binding, while CD81, CLDN1 and OCLN all acted sequentially at a post-binding stage prior to endosomal acidification. These results fit a model where the tight junction region is the last to be encountered by the virion prior to internalization.     

The Intraviral Protein Interaction Network of Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global health problem and one of the main reasons for chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV genome is translated into a polyprotein which is proteolytically processed into 10 viral proteins. The interactome of the HCV proteins with the host cell has been worked out; however, it remains unclear how viral proteins interact with each other. We aimed to generate the interaction network of these 10 HCV proteins using a flow-cytometry-based FRET assay established in our laboratory (Banning, C., Votteler, J., Hoffmann, D., Koppensteiner, H., Warmer, M., Reimer, R., Kirchhoff, F., Schubert, U., Hauber, J., and Schindler, M. (2010) A flow cytometry-based FRET assay to identify and analyse protein-protein interactions in living cells. PLoS One 5, e9344).HCV proteins were constructed as fusions with the chromophores CFP and YFP. All HCV fusions were expressed and localized to specific subcellular compartments, indicating that they were functional. FACS-FRET measurements identified a total of 20 interactions; 13 of these were previously described and have now been confirmed in living cells via our method. Among the seven novel protein binding pairs, HCV p7 plays a pivotal role. It binds to the HCV capsid protein Core and the two glycoproteins E1 and E2. These interplays were further demonstrated in the relevant context of Huh7.5 liver cells expressing infectious HCV.Our work demonstrates the feasibility of rapidly generating small interaction networks via FACS-FRET and defines the network of intra-HCV protein interactions. Furthermore, our data support an important role of p7 in HCV assembly.Hepatitis C virus (HCV)¹ belongs to the family of Flaviviridae and is the only member of the genus Hepacivirus. The ∼9.5-kB positive-strand RNA genome is directly translated via an internal ribosomal entry site into a polyprotein. This is proteolytically processed by cellular and viral proteases into structural (Core, E1, E2) and nonstructural (p7, NS2, NS3, NS4A/B, and NS5A/B) proteins (1). In recent decades, light was shed on the importance and biological relevance of most HCV proteins, which ultimately led to the development of the first specific antiviral therapy involving inhibition of the NS3 serine protease (2). However, because HCV is highly variable and because of the rapid emergence of drug resistance, additional therapeutic approaches are urgently needed (2). An impressive body of data was derived from protein interaction or siRNA screens investigating the interplay of HCV proteins with cellular factors (3–5). Although these screens are essential in order for researchers to understand how HCV manipulates the host cell, their potential benefit for novel therapeutic approaches could be limited. HCV is a chronic viral infection, and targeting host factors might result in drugs with severe adverse effects. Thus, a promising strategy would be to specifically inhibit interactions among viral proteins. Surprisingly, until now, a comprehensive analysis of the putative interactions and the interplay of HCV proteins with each other in living human cells has been lacking.In the present work, we did an extensive and thorough analysis of intra-HCV protein interactions. We used our novel flow-cytometry-based FRET assay that allows rapid assessment of the interplay between proteins in thousands of living cells (6). Therefore, this experimental approach enables quantification and statistical evaluation of all results. From the total of 20 interactions established by FACS-FRET, we chose to further investigate three that were not yet described in the literature. The putative HCV viroporin p7 binds to the structural proteins, and this was verified via biochemical methods in cells expressing fully infectious HCV.The established network of intra-HCV protein interactions in living mammalian cells provides new insights into the biology of this important human pathogen. Furthermore, we identified several HCV protein interactions that could be targeted for antiviral therapy.     

丙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白NS4B诱导细胞非折叠蛋白反应

用RT-PCR和免疫印迹的方法检测稳定表达NS4B的HeLa细胞中的XBP1;通过RT-PCR的方法在表达NS4B的HeLa和Huh-7细胞中检测ATF6,Grp78和caspase-12的转录,并且通过报告基因的方法分析XBP1和Grp78启动子活性。实验结果表明:在表达NS4B的HeLa细胞中检测到XBP1的两种形式(剪接和未剪接),此外,在细胞中ATF6、Grp78的转录水平和XBP1、Grp78启动子的荧光素酶活性较没有表达NS4B的HeLa和Huh-7细胞中的量有所增加;通过染色质免疫沉淀实验(ChIP)分析,这些增加可能是由于XBP1结合到了这些基因的启动子上引起的。总之,实验结果可提示HCVNS4B通过ATF6或XBP1途径引起内质网压力,导致UPR反应。NS4B可能在HCV的致病性中起着重要的作用,特别是在慢性肝炎,甚至肝细胞癌中。     

丙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白NS4B诱导细胞非折叠蛋白反应

用RT-PCR和免疫印迹的方法检测稳定表达NS4B的HeLa细胞中的XBP1;通过RT-PCR的方法在表达NS4B的HeLa和Huh-7细胞中检测ATF6,Grp78和caspase-12的转录,并且通过报告基因的方法分析XBP1和Grp78启动子活性.实验结果表明在表达NS4B的HeLa细胞中检测到XBP1的两种形式(剪接和未剪接),此外,在细胞中ATF6、Grp78的转录水平和XBP1、Grp78启动子的荧光素酶活性较没有表达NS4B的HeLa和Huh-7细胞中的量有所增加;通过染色质免疫沉淀实验(ChIP)分析,这些增加可能是由于XBP1结合到了这些基因的启动子上引起的.总之,实验结果可提示HCV NS4B通过ATF6或XBP1途径引起内质网压力,导致UPR反应.NS4B可能在HCV的致病性中起着重要的作用,特别是在慢性肝炎,甚至肝细胞癌中.     

丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白在大肠杆菌和毕赤酵母中表达的比较

为获得丙型肝炎病毒的核心蛋白（Core）,将克隆有Core基因的表达载体pBVIL1-Core转化大肠杆菌HB101,温度诱导表达Core蛋白。同时利用PCR方法以含有丙型肝炎病毒全基因的质粒PBR^TM／HCV为模板扩增Core基因,克隆进表达载体pPICZαA,构建表达载体pPICZαA-Core,转化毕赤酵母（Pichia pastoris）GS115,在甲醇诱导下表达Core蛋白。Western-blot显示Core蛋白在大肠杆菌中高效表达,表达蛋白量占菌体总蛋白的20％;在酵母培养上清中存在Core蛋白,证明Core蛋白在酵母系统中成功表达。     

丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白在昆虫细胞中表达、加工和细胞定位研究

以杆状病毒-昆虫细胞表达系统Bac-to-Bac为模型,就目前存在较多争论的HCV核心蛋白的加工和细胞定位问题进行探讨.根据核心蛋白的亲水性分析结果,设计了三种长度的基因片段(C173、C191和C215),经过PCR扩增、重组转移载体构建、细菌内转座和昆虫细胞转染,获得三种重组病毒(rvBACC173、rvBACC191和rvBACC215)用于表达分析.SDS-PAGE电泳和免疫印迹试验表明,昆虫细胞能够识别核心蛋白第191和192位氨基酸之间的切点并低效率切割;但不能够识别173～191位之间的切点.间接免疫荧光试验表明,截断型核心蛋白C173定位于细胞核内,而C191和C215则停留在细胞浆中.rvBACC173感染的细胞在核内出现单一的"类晶体样结构",电子显微镜分析证实,这种结构是截断型核心蛋白大量转运并沉积在细胞核内形成的蛋白聚合体.试验结果还表明,第173至191之间的疏水性序列负性调节蛋白的表达,并且影响蛋白在细胞内的分布.间接ELISA实验证实,部分纯化的核心蛋白可用作诊断试剂检测人血清中的特异性抗体.     

HCV核心蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达及免疫学特性分析

目的:表达HCV核心蛋白,为检测丙肝病毒提供合适抗原。方法:以含HCV核心全长cDNA克隆的pMD18T/core质粒为模板,PCR扩增全长的HCV核心抗原基因,插入表达载体pQEN1构建重组质粒pQEN1/Core,转化BL-21(DE3)大肠杆菌,IPTG诱导表达6×His融合蛋白,表达产物经SDS-PAGE及Western blot检测和鉴定。结果:经SDS-PAGE及Western blot显示HCV核心蛋白在大肠杆菌中正确表达,融合蛋白分子量约为22 kD,表达量约占菌体蛋白总量的30%。纯化后的C蛋白能与慢性丙型肝炎患者有血清反应。结论:HCV核心蛋白在大肠杆菌中成功表达并具有较强的抗原性。     

丙型肝炎病毒NS5A蛋白对Huh7细胞周期的影响

应用PCR技术从含有丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）全长开放阅读框的质粒pBRTM／HCV1～3011中获得NS5A全长基因片段,利用基因重组技术将其克隆至真核表达载体pcDNA3．1（-）中。通过酶切、PCR及测序鉴定证实,NS5A基因已正确插入到pcDNA3．1（-）中。再利用脂质体介导转染Huh7细胞,30h后收获细胞,经Western blot验证,证实HCV的NS5A基因在Huh7细胞中已经获得表达。在培养条件完全一致的条件下,表达NS5A基因的Huh7细胞与pcDNA3．1（-）转染的细胞在转染30h后被收集起来,乙醇固定,PI染色后利用流式细胞仪检测细胞周期变化。G0／G1期由60．6％下降到49．7％,S期由23．9％上升到32．7％,而转染pcDNA3．1（-）细胞的细胞周期与正常的Huh7细胞则差别不大。从而证明HCV NS5A蛋白对Huh7细胞周期具有调节作用。     

Suppression Of Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein By Short Hairpin Rna Expression Vectors In The Core Protein Expression Huh-7 Cells

Short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) efficiently inhibit gene expression by RNA interference. Here, we report the efficient inhibition by DNA-based vector-derived shRNAs of core protein expression in Huh-7 cells. The shRNAs were designed to target the core region of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome. The core region is the most conserved region in the HCV genome, making it an ideal target for shRNAs. We identified an effective site on the core region for suppression of the HCV core protein. The HCV core protein in core protein-expressing Huh-7 cells was downregulated by core protein-shRNA expression vectors (core-shRNA-452, 479, and 503). Our results support the feasibility of using shRNA-based gene therapy to inhibit HCV core protein production.     

乙肝病毒X 蛋白通过CREB 上调HBx结合蛋白促进肝癌细胞迁移

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白（hepatitis B virus X protein,HBx）对肝癌的发生发展具有十分重要的作用. HBx 具有促进肝癌迁移的作用,但其作用的分子机制不清. 本研究对 HBx 促进肝癌细胞迁移的分子机制进行了探讨. 伤口愈合和 Boyden’s chamber结果表明,HBx 可明显促进肝癌 HepG2 细胞迁移. 在稳定转染 HBx 的 HepG2（HepG2-X）细胞中转染 HBx 结合蛋白（hepatitis B X-interacting protein,HBXIP）的 RNA 干扰片段,可明显抑制 HBx 的促迁移作用. 免疫组化和实时定量 PCR 结果表明,HBXIP 在肝癌组织中显著高表达,并且与 HBx 表达成正相关. 荧光素酶报告基因和免疫印迹结果表明,HBx 显著增强 HBXIP 的启动子活性和蛋白质表达水平. 应用 HBx 的 RNA 干扰处理 HepG2-X 细胞,HBXIP 的启动子活性和蛋白质表达水平明显下降.将 HBXIP 启动子区的cAMP效应元件结合因子（CREB）结合位点突变后,HBx 上调 HBXIP 的作用消失. 应用 CREB 的 RNA 干扰处理肝癌细胞,在启动子水平和蛋白质水平上, HBx 对 HBXIP 的上调作用被显著抑制. 染色质免疫共沉淀结果表明,HBx 能够通过 CREB 结合到 HBXIP 的启动子上,进而发挥激活 HBXIP 的功能. 本研究结果表明,HBx 促进肝癌细胞迁移的作用是通过 CREB 上调 HBXIP 实现的. 这一发现对进一步揭示 HBx 促进肝癌细胞迁移的分子机制具有重要意义.     

Role of Oxysterol Binding Protein in Hepatitis C Virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome replicates within the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex in the modified membranous structures extended from endoplasmic reticulum. A proteomic analysis of HCV RNP complexes revealed the association of oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) as one of the components of these complexes. OSBP interacted with the N-terminal domain I of the HCV NS5A protein and colocalized to the Golgi compartment with NS5A. An OSBP-specific short hairpin RNA that partially downregulated OSBP expression resulted in a decrease of the HCV particle release in culture supernatant with little effect on viral RNA replication. The pleckstrin homology (PH) domain located in the N-terminal region of OSBP targeted this protein to the Golgi apparatus. OSBP deletion mutation in the PH (ΔPH) domain failed to localize to the Golgi apparatus and inhibited the HCV particle release. These studies suggest a possible functional role of OSBP in the HCV maturation process.Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the leading causes of chronic hepatitis. HCV infection is associated with cirrhosis, steatosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (33). The HCV RNA genome of ∼9.6 kb is translated via an internal ribosome entry site element on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as a polyprotein precursor of about 3,010 amino acids that is co- and posttranslationally processed by cellular and viral proteases into mature structural and nonstructural (NS) proteins (33). HCV replicates within ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes associated with modified ER membranous structures (15). Recent work implicated lipid droplets that emanate from the ER as sites of RNA replication (28, 44). Almost all of the HCV NS proteins along with a variety of cellular factors are associated with the RNP complexes engaged in viral RNA replication (37). It is likely that these NS proteins not only participate in replication process but also are involved in the various steps of virion morphogenesis and assembly. Membrane-associated RNP complexes are generally composed of viral proteins, replicating RNA, host proteins, and altered cellular membranes (1). In this respect, a growing body of evidence implicates the functional role of NS5A in early steps of virion assembly and morphogenesis (3, 27, 45). NS5A is a phosphoprotein that migrates in sodium dodecyl sulfate gels as 56-kDa (basally phosphorylated) and 58-kDa (hyperphosphorylated) forms of proteins. The C-terminal domain III region of NS5A and the phosphorylated residue (Ser⁴⁵⁷) are important for virion maturation (3, 27, 45). NS5A domain III contains the binding site for viral core protein, indicating the possible involvement of NS5A protein in virus assembly (27). NS5A anchors to the ER membrane by an N-terminal hydrophobic α-helix, and this attachment is needed for its key role(s) in viral replication (10). Studies suggest that phosphorylation of NS5A plays a functional role in viral replication (12). The hyperphosphorylated NS5A reduces its interaction with the human vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein A (VAP-A) (12). VAP-A binds both NS5A and NS5B (13, 17). These associations are important for RNA replication (13, 17).HCV alters lipid homeostasis to benefit its infectious processes. Host lipids and their synthesis affect viral infectious process (21, 40, 51, 57). HCV RNA replication can be induced by saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and inhibited by polyunsaturated fatty acids (18, 21). HCV gene expression induces lipogenesis by stimulating the activation of the sterol regulatory element binding proteins, the master regulators of lipid/fatty acid biosynthetic pathways (51). Reagents that interfere with host lipid biosynthetic pathways abrogate viral replication (21, 57). It has been suggested that HCV utilizes the very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion pathway for its viral particle release (14, 19). These studies collectively suggest that host lipid metabolism plays a key role in the viral life cycle including replication, virion assembly, and secretion (56).In the present study, we focus on the functional role of oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) that was identified by proteomic analysis as one of the host factors associated with the HCV RNP complexes. OSBP belongs to a family of the OSBP-related proteins. Originally discovered as a major cytosolic receptor for oxidized cholesterols, it undergoes translocation from the cytosolic/vesicular compartment to the Golgi apparatus upon ligand (hydroxycholesterol) binding (38). OSBP also binds to VAP-A via its FFAT motif (53). Golgi apparatus translocation of OSBP is regulated by the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. This domain also harbors binding sites for phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (PI4,5P₂) (25). OSBP and OSBP-related proteins are implicated in cholesterol homeostasis, phospholipid metabolism, vesicular transport, and cell signaling (55). OSBP functions as sterol sensor that regulates the transport of ceramide from the ER to the Golgi apparatus for de novo synthesis of sphingomyelin by coordinated action with ceramide transport protein (CERT) (36). OSBP also functions as a scaffolding protein for two phosphatases (phosphatase 2A/HePTP) (49). This complex regulates the activity of extracellular signal-regulate kinase. This cytosolic 440-kDa complex disassembles by the addition of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) or depletion of cholesterol, both of which cause OSBP translocation to the Golgi compartment (49). Thus, in addition to its role in intracellular trafficking, OSBP appears to regulate cell signaling. We investigated the functional significance of OSBP association with HCV RNP complexes. RNA interference studies support a functional role of OSBP in virion morphogenesis and release process. The OSBP PH domain deletion mutant (ΔPH) failed to localize to the Golgi apparatus and caused an inhibition of the HCV particle release. Our work described herein also demonstrates that the association of OSBP with NS5A may also contribute to the overall HCV maturation process.     

丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白对转录因子的调控作用

丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）核心蛋白是HCV病毒粒子核衣壳的组分,同时又是一种多功能蛋白。它能与胞内多种蛋白相互作用,调控NF-κB、AP-1、Sp1、Elk-1、STAT3、ATF-2、NF-AT等多种转录因子,影响一系列基因的表达。核心蛋白在HCV感染的病理发生和慢性化及致癌等过程中起着重要作用。     

丙型肝炎病毒NS5A基因在昆虫细胞中的表达及其分布研究

应用PCR方法从含有丙肝病毒全部非结构蛋白基因的质粒pBAC25中扩增出全长的NS5A基因DNA片段(约1.34kb),PCR扩增NS5A基因片段克隆到转移载体pBlueBacHisA中.重组转移质粒pBlueBacHis5A DNA与野生型杆状病毒(AcNPV)DNA共转染SF-9昆虫细胞,通过空斑纯化获得带有NS5A基因的重组病AcNS5A.对重组病毒基因组DNA进行酶切和PCR鉴定,证实HCV NS5A基因已插入重组病毒基因组中.AcNS5A感染SF-9细胞后,在细胞中表达出一条64kD的蛋白,用Western-blot分析,结果表明这种蛋白与抗HCV HS5A特异性抗体发生强烈反应,说明NS5A基因已在细胞中得到表达,应用免疫荧光技术与免疫组化技术进一步研究NS5A蛋白在昆虫细胞中不同时间的表达情况及其分布,结果表明,NS5A蛋白在AcNS5A重组病毒感染细胞24h后主要分布在细胞质膜上,而在48h后则同时分布于细胞质膜和细胞核内,在72h则完全布满整个细胞,我们认为NS5A蛋白定位于质膜和细胞核中,暗示着在病毒复制过程中NS5A蛋白可能参与病毒RNA在质膜上复制和细胞基因表达的调控.     

丙型肝炎病毒NS5A基因在昆虫细胞中的表达及其分布研究

应用PCR方法从含有丙肝病毒全部非结构蛋白基因的质粒pBAC25中扩增出全长的NS5A基因DNA片段（约1.34kb),PCR扩增NS5A基因片段克隆到转移载体plueBacHisA中。重组转移质粒pBlueBacHis5ADNA与野生型杆状病（AcNPV)DNA共转染SF-9昆虫细胞,通过空斑纯化获得带有NS5A基因的重组病AcNS5A,对重组病毒基因组DNA进行酶切和PCR鉴定,证实HCV NS5A基因已插入重组病毒基因组中,AcNS5A感染SF-9细胞后,在细胞中表达出一条64kD的蛋白,用Western-blot分析,结果表明这种蛋白与抗HVCHS5A特异性抗体发生强烈反应,说明NS5A基因已在细胞中得到表达,应用免疫荧光技术与免疫组化技术进一步研究NS5A蛋白在昆虫细胞中不同时间的表达情况及其分布,结果表明,NS5A蛋白在AcNS5A重组病毒感染细胞24h后主要分布在细胞质膜上,而在48h后则同时分布于细胞质膜和细胞核内,在72h则完全布满整个细胞,我们认为NS5A蛋白定位于质膜和细胞核中,暗示着在病毒复制过程中NS5A蛋白可能参与病毒RNA在质膜上复制和细胞基因表达的调控。