摘要
Background and Aims:The noncoding regions in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV)genome contain secondary structures that are important for replication.The aim of this study was to identify detailed conformational elements of the X-region involved in HCV replication.Methods:Ribonucleic acid (RNA) structural analogs X94,X12,and X12c were constructed to have identical conformation but 94%,12%,and 0% sequence identity,respectively,to the X region of HCV genotype 2a.Effects of structural analogs on replication of HCV genotypes 1b and 2a HCV RNA were studied by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.Results:In replicon BB7 cells,a constitutive replication model,HCV RNA levels decreased to 55%,52%,53%,and 54% after transfection with expression plasmids generating RNA structural analogs 5B-46,X-94,X-12,and X-12c,respectively (p<0.001 for all).In an HCV genotype 2a infection model,RNA analogs 5B-46,X-94,and X-12 in hepatic cells inhibited replication to 11%,9%,and 12%,respectively.Because the X-12 analog was only 12% identical to the corresponding sequence of HCV genotype 2a,the sequence per se,or antisense effects were unlikely to be involved.Conclusions:The data suggest that conformation of secondary structures in 3'-UTR of HCV RNA genome is required for HCV replication.Stable expression of RNA analogs predicted to have identical stem-loop structures might inhibit HCV infection of hepatocytes in liver and may represent a novel approach to design anti-HCV agents.
Background and Aims:The noncoding regions in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV)genome contain secondary structures that are important for replication.The aim of this study was to identify detailed conformational elements of the X-region involved in HCV replication.Methods:Ribonucleic acid (RNA) structural analogs X94,X12,and X12c were constructed to have identical conformation but 94%,12%,and 0% sequence identity,respectively,to the X region of HCV genotype 2a.Effects of structural analogs on replication of HCV genotypes 1b and 2a HCV RNA were studied by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.Results:In replicon BB7 cells,a constitutive replication model,HCV RNA levels decreased to 55%,52%,53%,and 54% after transfection with expression plasmids generating RNA structural analogs 5B-46,X-94,X-12,and X-12c,respectively (p<0.001 for all).In an HCV genotype 2a infection model,RNA analogs 5B-46,X-94,and X-12 in hepatic cells inhibited replication to 11%,9%,and 12%,respectively.Because the X-12 analog was only 12% identical to the corresponding sequence of HCV genotype 2a,the sequence per se,or antisense effects were unlikely to be involved.Conclusions:The data suggest that conformation of secondary structures in 3'-UTR of HCV RNA genome is required for HCV replication.Stable expression of RNA analogs predicted to have identical stem-loop structures might inhibit HCV infection of hepatocytes in liver and may represent a novel approach to design anti-HCV agents.
