Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Quantitative analysis of the hepatitis C virus replication complex.

Doris Quinkert1, Ralf Bartenschlager, Volker Lohmann

  • 1Department Molecular Virology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

Journal of Virology
|October 18, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Only a small fraction of hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural proteins actively replicate RNA. This study estimates an active HCV replicase complex contains hundreds of proteins per viral RNA molecule.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Addition of blood-stage antibody enhances anti-sporozoite antibody protection in a humanized mouse model of Plasmodium falciparum infection.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Analysis of monoclonal antibodies against the malaria invasion complex protein RIPR reveals the structural basis for synergistic antibody protection.

Immunity·2026
Same author

The hepatitis E virus capsid protein forms amyloid-like fibrils that sequester TANK-binding kinase 1 to dampen antiviral responses.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Renewed momentum for HCV and HCC research.

Journal of hepatology·2026
Same author

ProTides for Antiviral Activity Beyond Liver Cells.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Structure-guided design of a PfCyRPA-based vaccine against blood-stage malaria.

EMBO molecular medicine·2026

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Hepatitis C Virus Research

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) produces viral proteins from a single polyprotein, leading to equimolar expression.
  • The functional stoichiometry of HCV nonstructural proteins in RNA replication remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the ratio of nonstructural proteins to RNA necessary for efficient HCV RNA replication.
  • To investigate the active components within HCV replication complexes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Huh-7 cells with full-length HCV genomes or subgenomic replicons.
  • Isolation and biochemical analysis of active HCV replication complexes.
  • Protease and nuclease treatments to assess protein and RNA protection.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • HCV-infected cells exhibit over a 1,000-fold excess of viral proteins compared to viral RNA.
  • Active replication complexes showed nuclease-resistant RNA and protease-sensitive proteins.
  • A minor fraction of nonstructural proteins (<5%) accounted for full in vitro replicase activity.

Conclusions:

  • Only a small subset of HCV nonstructural proteins are actively engaged in RNA synthesis at any given time.
  • An active HCV replicase complex is estimated to contain numerous nonstructural protein copies per viral RNA molecule.
  • These proteins may serve structural roles in replication compartments, supporting vesicular structures.