丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶瞬时表达小鼠模型的建立

目的:建立丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶体内活性评价模型。方法:利用NS4A/B是NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶作用底物的特性,构建融合基因NS3/NS4A/B-SEAP,底物片段NS4A/B插在NS3/4A和人分泌性碱性磷酸酶(SEAP)之间,融合基因表达后SEAP的分泌依赖于有活性的NS3/4A在NS4A/B位点的切割。将含融合基因的质粒NS3/4A(△4AB)SEAP通过水动力转染技术转染到小鼠体内,检测小鼠血清中SEAP的活性,高活性的SEAP是该评价体系成立的证据。结果与结论:在瞬时表达NS3/4A的小鼠血清中检测到了高活性的SEAP,建立了可用于评价抗NS3/4A的小鼠体内瞬时模型。     

Tet-on和Cre/loxP系统双重调控表达丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A蛋白酶三转基因小鼠的建立

目的:建立Tet-On调控系统和Cre/loxP基因剔除系统双重调控表达丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶三转基因小鼠。方法:选择适龄并经鉴定的在Tet-on系统调控下肝脏特异性表达Cre重组酶的双转基因小鼠Lap/LC-1与在Tet-on系统调控下肝脏特异性表达萤光素酶(Luc)的双转基因小鼠Lap/NS3/4A交配,子代小鼠经PCR检测、筛选基因组中NS3/4A、Lap、LC-1等3个转基因片段均阳性的小鼠。三阳性的NS3/4A/Lap/LC-1小鼠经多西环素(Dox)诱导1周后,以在体生物发光成像系统(BLI)检测报告基因Luc的表达,免疫组化检测小鼠体内Cre重组酶、HCV NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶的表达状况。结果:NS3/4A/Lap/LC-1小鼠经Dox诱导后,BLI结果显示仅在小鼠肝脏部位有强烈的发光信号,表明这些小鼠肝细胞内报告基因Luc特异高效表达;免疫组化结果证实Cre重组酶、NS3/4A蛋白酶仅在经诱导后的小鼠肝细胞中特异性表达。结论:建立了Tet-On调控系统和Cre/loxP基因剔除系统双重调控下表达HCV NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶的三转基因小鼠模型,为进一步研究HCV NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶在HCV感染后与宿主相互作用的机制,以及抗NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶特异性抑制剂的筛选奠定了基础。     

HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶胞内荧光检测方法的建立

目的:建立丙型肝炎病毒NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶胞内荧光检测方法。方法:利用EGFP分子内合适位点可以插入一定长度外源片段而不影响荧光性能的特性,构建EGFP分子内插入NS3/4A蛋白酶识别序列NS5AB的EGFP-5AB重组分子。将EGFP-5AB与NS3/4A蛋白酶共表达,若短肽链被切断,则EGFP的两个部分解离,荧光消失,从而可以监测HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶的存在。通过将NS5AB插入三种不同位点,寻找最合适的插入位点;将EGFP-5AB转染进入不同宿主细胞,验证其在不同细胞的表达情况并选择最佳宿主细胞。结果:确定EGFP 173-174氨基酸位点是合适的插入位点;确定CHO-K1为理想的荧光检测系统宿主细胞;在构建的细胞模型中,能够检测到EGFP被切割后的条带,但检测不到荧光信号,说明EGFP-5AB蛋白被有效切割,该方法可以检测到NS3/4A丝氨酸蛋白酶的存在。结论:成功构建了一种在哺乳动物细胞中检测NS3/4A蛋白酶切割活性的荧光检测方法。     

丙型肝炎病毒NS3蛋白酶的研究进展

丙型肝炎病毒感染常呈慢性化,且易使病情进一步发展为肝硬化和肝细胞癌。其基因的多变性使得疫苗研究进展缓慢,鉴于NS3蛋白酶在病毒体的成熟和复制中所起的重要作用,阐明结构和功能,寻找其抑制剂可能对抗病毒治疗有重要意义。     

基因枪法和肌内注射法免疫HCV NS3/4A诱导小鼠免疫应答的比较

目的比较肌内注射法和基因枪法对免疫效果的影响。方法将携带HCV NS3/4A基因的质粒pcDNA3.1-NS3/4A,分别肌内注射和基因枪免疫BALB/c小鼠。基因枪免疫采用2μg/只和10μg/只两种剂量,肌内注射免疫的剂量为100μg/只,共免疫3次。分别于第3次免疫后10 d和20 d,收集小鼠血清、分离脾细胞;ELISA法检测小鼠血清中特异性抗体水平;ELIspot检测小鼠IFN-γI、L-2和IL-4;非放射性细胞毒性试验检测其对肿瘤细胞的杀伤作用,从而比较肌内注射和基因枪法激发小鼠产生体液免疫和细胞免疫应答的影响。结果免疫后第10 d检测结果表明,2μg/只和10μg/只基因枪法免疫产生的抗体效价分别为1∶500和1∶1 000,100μg/只肌内注射免疫产生的抗体效价为1∶1 000。第20 d再次检测,基因枪法产生的抗体效价仍为1∶500和1∶1 000,肌内注射降低为1∶500。2μg/只和10μg/只基因枪免疫产生的IFN-γ和IL-2均高于100μg/只肌内注射免疫。但这两种免疫方法均未激发IL-4的水平。在不同的效靶比情况下,10μg/只和2μg/只基因枪免疫激发的CTL细胞杀伤活性均高于100μg/只肌内注射免疫。结论基因枪法免疫小鼠诱导的体液免疫和细胞免疫应答均显著高于肌内注射免疫。     

HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶与Faldaprevir类似物的分子识别机制及其复合物运动模式

Faldaprevir类似物(Faldaprevir analogue molecule,FAM)能有效抑制HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶的催化活性,是一种潜在抗HCV先导化合物。通过生物信息学统计分析了已报道的HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶晶体结构,得到了FAM-HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶晶体结构。对FAM-HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶复合物进行了20.4 ns的分子动力学模拟,重点从氢键和结合自由能两个角度分析了二者分子识别中的关键残基及结合驱动力。氢键和范德华力是促使FAM特异性结合到蛋白V132?S139、F154?D168、D79?D81和V55的活性口袋中的主要驱动力,这与实验数据较为吻合。耐药性突变实验分析了R155K、D168E/V和V170T定点突变对FAM分子识别的影响,为可能存在的FAM耐药性提供了分子依据。最后,用自由能曲面和构象聚类两个方法探讨了体系的构象变化,给出体系的4种优势构象,为后续的基于HCV NS3/4A蛋白酶结构的Faldaprevir类似物抑制剂分子设计提供一定的理论帮助。     

HCV全长NS3基因表达及在抗体检测中的应用

丙型肝炎病毒 (ＨＣＶ)是引起非甲非乙型肝炎的主要病原因子。被ＨＣＶ感染的病例中 ,超过 5 0 %以上会引起持续性感染、慢性肝炎 ,最终可能引起肝硬化和肝细胞癌[1] 。ＨＣＶ严重威胁人类健康 ,但目前对丙肝患者尚缺乏有效的治疗手段 ,因此 ,严格把好血源关 ,提高对丙肝患者检出的灵敏度 ,是阻止丙肝血源传播的有效手段。丙型肝炎病毒基因组为单股正链ＲＮＡ ,核苷酸长约 9.5ｋｂ ,仅含一个开放阅读框 ,翻译成一个大的聚蛋白前体 ,由宿主细胞信号肽酶和病毒蛋白酶加工成多个成熟蛋白。其中非结构蛋白ＮＳ3分子量为 70ｋＤ ,有丝氨酸蛋白酶…     

HCV NS3/4A基因外来表达对Huh7细胞凋亡及DNA损伤应答的影响

NS3/4A是丙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis C virus,HCV）编码的丝氨酸蛋白酶复合体,是病毒完成自身复制周期的必要成分。该研究为调查NS3/4A对细胞凋亡及DNA损伤应答（DNA-damage response,DDR）的影响,在Huh7细胞中表达了外来NS3/4A基因。通过DAPI染色和MTT分析显示,外来表达NS3/4A显著诱导细胞的凋亡和增殖活力的下降。免疫荧光检测结果表明,NS3/4A可明显增加细胞内源性DNA双链断裂（double strand breaks,DSBs）损伤（γH2AX灶点升高）;而进一步用X-ray诱导细胞外源性DSBs损伤后,外来表达NS3/4A的细胞显示出明显的DSBs损伤修复缺陷（减缓的γH2AX灶点消退）。免疫印迹法检测结果显示,NS3/4A可抑制喜树碱（Camptothecin,CPT）诱导的ATM第1 981位丝氨酸的磷酸化（pATM1 981）。以上结果提示,NS3/4A基因外来表达可引起细胞DNA损伤,抑制ATM介导的DSBs损伤修复信号,诱导细胞凋亡通路的活化。     

丙型肝炎病毒感染过程中其NS3/4A蛋白酶切割线粒体抗病毒信号蛋白的动态过程

已知丙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis C virus,HCV)可通过其蛋白酶NS3/4A切割线粒体抗病毒信号蛋白(mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein,MAVS)来逃逸天然免疫识别,但尚不清楚其切割动力学及切割在抑制干扰素中的作用。本研究旨在细胞模型中探讨HCV感染过程中病毒复制建立及病毒NS3/4A切割MAVS的动态过程,探究NS3/4A切割MAVS对病毒逃逸宿主天然免疫建立感染的贡献。首先构建基于绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)的MAVS切割报告系统(GFP-NLS-MAVS-TM462),用 HCV Jc1-Gluc 感染Huh7.5/GFP-NLS-MAVS-TM462细胞。结果显示,病毒复制早期MAVS切割效率较低;NS3/4A高效切割MAVS发生于HCV复制晚期,且其切割效率与NS3蛋白水平相关。利用带有GFP ypet的HCV报告病毒Jc1-378-1感染Huh7.5/RFP-NLS-MAVS-TM462细胞,在单细胞水平观察HCV感染阳性细胞中MAVS被切割情况,发现HCV复制细胞中仅部分细胞MAVS被切割。进一步研究发现,不同基因型NS3/4A切割MAVS的效率仅与NS3表达水平相关。以上结果提示,HCV蛋白酶NS3/4A切割MAVS依赖NS3/4A蛋白在病毒复制过程中的累积,对在病毒复制早期逃逸宿主天然免疫建立感染可能无显著贡献。     

圣路易斯脑炎病毒NS2B-NS3蛋白酶的原核表达及其抑制剂的筛选

【目的】圣路易斯脑炎病毒(St. Louis encephalitis virus,SLEV)属于黄病毒科,是一种单股正链RNA病毒。黄病毒编码的非结构蛋白NS3在病毒复制以及多聚蛋白加工过程中起着重要作用,NS2B是其发挥作用的重要辅助因子。因此,NS2B-NS3蛋白酶复合物是抗病毒药物的重要靶标。本研究旨在构建SLEV NS2B-NS3蛋白酶的原核表达系统并建立其抑制剂的高通量筛选方法,从而发现其小分子抑制剂。【方法】通过PCR扩增SLEVNS2B-NS3蛋白的编码区,构建原核表达质粒;在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,经异丙基硫代半乳糖苷(Isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside)诱导得到可溶性的NS2B-NS3蛋白,并用镍亲和层析方法进行纯化;基于荧光共振能量转移(Fluorescence resonance energy transfer)技术检测NS2B-NS3蛋白酶活性,建立其抑制剂的高通量筛选平台。【结果】SLEV NS2B-NS3蛋白酶纯化程度高达95%以上,基于酶活测定的抑制剂筛选平台准确可行。对700多个上市药物进行筛选后,发现原花青素对SLEVNS2B-NS3蛋白酶具有明显的抑制活性。【结论】本研究为SLEVNS2B-NS3蛋白酶抑制剂提供了一种操作方便、高通量的筛选方法,并首次发现了原花青素具有抑制SLEV NS2B-NS3蛋白酶活性的功能,可以作为治疗SLEV感染的潜在靶向药物。     

Mechanistic and kinetic characterization of hepatitis C virus NS3 protein interactions with NS4A and protease inhibitors

The mechanism and kinetics of the interactions between ligands and immobilized full‐length hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1a NS3 have been characterized by SPR biosensor technology. The NS3 interactions for a series of NS3 protease inhibitors as well as for the NS4A cofactor, represented by a peptide corresponding to the sequence interacting with the enzyme, were found to be heterogeneous. It may represent interactions with two stable conformations of the protein. The NS3–NS4A interaction consisted of a high‐affinity (K_D = 50 nM) and a low‐affinity (K_D = 2 µM) interaction, contributing equally to the overall binding. By immobilizing NS3 alone or together with NS4A it was shown that all inhibitors had a higher affinity for NS3 in the presence of NS4A. NS4A thus has a direct effect on the binding of inhibitors to NS3 and not only on catalysis. As predicted, the mechanism‐based inhibitor VX 950 exhibited a time‐dependent interaction with a slow formation of a stable complex. BILN 2061 or ITMN‐191 showed no signs of time‐dependent interactions, but ITMN‐191 had the highest affinity of the tested compounds, with both the slowest dissociation (k_off) and fastest association rate, closely followed by BILN 2061. The k_off for the inhibitors correlated strongly with their NS3 protease inhibitory effect as well as with their effect on replication of viral proteins in replicon cell cultures, confirming the relevance of the kinetic data. This approach for obtaining kinetic and mechanistic data for NS3 protease inhibitor and cofactor interactions is expected to be of importance for understanding the characteristics of HCV NS3 functionality as well as for anti‐HCV lead discovery and optimization. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Complex of NS3 protease and NS4A peptide of BK strain hepatitis C virus: a 2.2 A resolution structure in a hexagonal crystal form.

The crystal structure of the NS3 protease of the hepatitis C virus (BK strain) has been determined in the space group P6(3)22 to a resolution of 2.2 A. This protease is bound with a 14-mer peptide representing the central region of the NS4A protein. There are two molecules of the NS3(1-180)-NS4A(21'-34') complex per asymmetric unit. Each displays a familiar chymotrypsin-like fold that includes two beta-barrel domains and four short alpha-helices. The catalytic triad (Ser-139, His-57, and Asp-81) is located in the crevice between the beta-barrel domains. The NS4A peptide forms an almost completely enclosed peptide surface association with the protease. In contrast to the reported H strain complex of NS3 protease-NS4A peptide in a trigonal crystal form (Kim JL et al., 1996, Cell 87:343-355), the N-terminus of the NS3 protease is well-ordered in both molecules in the asymmetric unit of our hexagonal crystal form. The folding of the N-terminal region of the NS3 protease is due to the formation of a three-helix bundle as a result of crystal packing. When compared with the unbound structure (Love RA et al., 1996, Cell 87:331-342), the binding of the NS4A peptide leads to the ordering of the N-terminal 28 residues of the NS3 protease into a beta-strand and an alpha-helix and also causes local rearrangements important for a catalytically favorable conformation at the active site. Our analysis provides experimental support for the proposal that binding of an NS4A-mimicking peptide, which increases catalytic rates, is necessary but not sufficient for formation of a well-ordered, compact and, hence, highly active protease molecule.     

Characterisation of the role of zinc in the hepatitis C virus NS2/3 auto-cleavage and NS3 protease activities

Cleavage of the hepatitis C virus polyprotein between the non-structural NS2 and NS3 proteins is mediated by a poorly characterised auto-proteolytic activity that maps to the C terminus of NS2 and the N terminus of NS3, but is distinct from the NS3 protease activity responsible for downstream cleavages in the polyprotein. We have exploited the fact that the minimal precursor (residues 904-1206 of the HCV polyprotein) can be expressed as an insoluble protein in Escherichia coli and subsequently refolded into a form active for both auto-cleavage and NS3 protease activity, to further characterise the NS2/3 auto-cleavage activity. We show that both activities are zinc-dependent and show an absolute requirement for cysteine residues 1123, 1125 and 1171 within NS3. In contrast cysteine 922 (within NS2) is only required for NS2/3 auto-cleavage activity and histidine 1175 is only required for NS3 activity. Although the complete NS3 protease domain (including the C-terminal alpha-helix) is required for NS2/3 auto-cleavage, the activity of the NS3 protease is not essential. Lastly we show that the NS2/3 auto-cleavage activity is more sensitive to zinc chelation by 1,10-phenanthroline than the NS3 protease activity. This observation is consistent with different conformations of the precursor competent for either NS2/3 auto-cleavage or NS3 protease activity; these two conformations can be distinguished by their relative strength and geometry of zinc coordination.     

Development of a cell-based assay for monitoring specific hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease activity in mammalian cells

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains a positive-sense RNA genome that encodes a unique polyprotein precursor, which must be processed by proteases to enable viral maturation. Virally encoded NS3/4A protease has thus become an attractive target for the development of antiviral drugs. To establish an assay system for monitoring NS3/4A protease activity in mammalian cells, this study describes a substrate vector, pEG(Delta4AB)SEAP, in which enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was fused to secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) through the NS3/4A protease decapeptide recognition sequence, Delta4AB, which spans the NS4A and NS4B junction region. Secretion of SEAP into the culture medium was demonstrated to depend on the cleavage of Delta4AB by HCV NS3/4A protease. We demonstrated that the accumulation of SEAP activity in the culture medium depends on time up to 60h with the coexpression of active NS3/4A protease. The amount of SEAP in the culture medium was around 10 times greater than that of cells with coexpression of inactive NS3/4A mutant protease. This strategy has made it possible to monitor NS3/4A activity inside mammalian cells. Moreover, by using cells containing the HCV subgenomic replicon, the EG(Delta4AB)SEAP reporter can be used to detect the anti-HCV activity of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Consequently, this EG(Delta4AB)SEAP reporter can be used to screen for NS3/4A protease inhibitors in the cellular environment and for anti-HCV drugs in replicon cells.     

Structure-based design of a novel series of azetidine inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS3/4A serine protease

Structural homology between thrombin inhibitors and the early tetrapeptide HCV protease inhibitor led to the bioisosteric replacement of the P2 proline by a 2,4-disubstituted azetidine within the macrocyclic β-strand mimic. Molecular modeling guided the design of the series. This approach was validated by the excellent activity and selectivity in biochemical and cell based assays of this novel series and confirmed by the co-crystal structure of the inhibitor with the NS3/4A protein (PDB code: 4TYD).     

Exploring small molecules with pan-genotypic inhibitory activities against hepatitis C virus NS3/4A serine protease

Among the many Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and subtypes, genotypes 1b and 3a are most prevalent in United States and Asia, respectively. A total of 132 commercially available analogs of a previous lead compound were initially investigated against wild-type HCV genotype 1b NS3/4A protease. Ten compounds showed inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ values) below 10 µM with comparable direct binding affinities (K_D values) determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). To identify pan-genotypic inhibitors, these ten selected compounds were tested against four additional genotypes (1a, 2a, 3a, and 4) and three drug-resistant mutants (A156S, R155K, and V36M). Four new analogs have been identified with better activities against all five tested genotypes than the prior lead compound. Further, the original lead compound did not show activity against genotype 3a NS3/4A, whereas four newly identified compounds exhibited IC₅₀ values below 33 µM against genotype 3a NS3/4A. Encouragingly, the best new compound F1813-0710 possessed promising activity toward genotype 3a, which is a huge improvement over the previous lead compound that had no effect on genotype 3a. This intriguing observation was further analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to understand their different binding interactions, which should benefit future pan-genotypic inhibitor design and drug discovery.