The p7 protein of hepatitis C virus forms an ion channel that is blocked by the antiviral drug, Amantadine.
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Griffin SD, Beales LP, Clarke DS, Worsfold O, Evans SD, Jaeger J, Harris MP, Rowlands DJ
The p7 protein of hepatitis C virus forms an ion channel that is blocked by the antiviral drug, Amantadine.
FEBS Lett. 2003 Jan 30;535(1-3):34-8.
- PubMed ID
- 12560074 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cannot be grown in vitro, making biochemical identification of new drug targets especially important. HCV p7 is a small hydrophobic protein of unknown function, yet necessary for particle infectivity in related viruses [Harada, T. et al., (2000) J. Virol. 74, 9498-9506]. We show that p7 can be cross-linked in vivo as hexamers. Escherichia coli expressed p7 fusion proteins also form hexamers in vitro. These and HIS-tagged p7 function as calcium ion channels in black lipid membranes. This activity is abrogated by Amantadine, a compound that inhibits ion channels of influenza [Hay, A.J. et al. (1985) EMBO J. 4, 3021-3024; Duff, K.C. and Ashley, R.H. (1992) Virology 190, 485-489] and has recently been shown to be active in combination with current HCV therapies.