What is it about?
A group of RNA viruses replicate their genomes by membrane-associated protein machinery-the viral replicase. Using Hepatitis C Virus as a model, we tried to purify the viral replicase and identified a key player, a host AAA+ATPase to be involved in the replicase function.
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Why is it important?
Formation of membrane-associated viral replicase is most conserved step for positive-strand RNA virus, and the replicase is an idea anti-viral target. Knowing the molecular mechanism of how it assembles may lead to new anti-viral strategy.
Perspectives
As we demonstrated the involvement of host AAA+ATPases in viral replicase function, targeting the AAA+ATPase may represent a new pan-antiviral strategy. Alternately, identifying the viral substrate(s) of this AAA+ATPase may also imply a new anti-viral target. We speculate co-opting host AAA+ATPase may be a general strategy for positive-strand RNA viruses.
Dr Zhigang Yi
Fudan University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Affinity Purification of the Hepatitis C Virus Replicase Identifies Valosin-Containing Protein, a Member of the ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities Family, as an Active Virus Replication Modulator, Journal of Virology, August 2016, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01140-16.
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