• 미생물학회지
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.188-193
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• 2011

C형 간염바이러스(hepatitis C virus; HCV) 증식을 효과적이며 특이적으로 제어할 수 있는 유전산물로서, HCV 증식조절인자인 NS5B RNA replicase 존재에 의해 allosteric하게 활성이 유도될 수 있는 HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) 표적 hammerhead 리보자임을 개발하였다. 이러한 리보자임은 HCV IRES 염기서열 중 +382 nucleotide 자리를 인지하는 hammerhead 리보자임, NS5B RNA replicase와 특이적으로 결합하는 RNA aptamer 부위, 그리고 aptamer와 NS5B와의 결합에 의해 리보자임 활성을 유도할 수 있도록 구조적 변이를 전달할 수 있는 communication module 부위 등으로 구성되어 있다. 이러한 allosteric 리보자임에 의해 세포 배양에서 HCV의 replicon 복제가 효과적으로 억제됨을 실시간 PCR 분석을 통하여 관찰하였다. 특히, HCV 지놈을 표적하는 리보자임 단독, 또는 HCV NS5B에 대한 RNA aptamer 단독에 의한 HCV 복제 억제능보다 allosteric 리보자임에 의한 HCV 복제 억제능이 더 뛰어났다. 따라서 개발된 allosteric 리보자임은 HCV 증식의 효과적인 증식 억제 선도물질로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.159-165
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• 2007

C형 간염바이러스(hepatitis C virus; HCV)증식을 효과적이며 특이적으로 제어할 수 있는 유전산물을 개발하기 위하여 HCV 중식조절이자인 NS5B RNA replicase 존재에 의해 allosteric하게 그 활성 이 조절될 수 있는 HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) 표적 hammerhead 리보자임을 개발하였다. 우선 HCV IRES 염기서열 중+382 nucleotide(nt) 부위가 리보자임에 의해 가장 잘 인식되었음을 관찰하였다. 이러한 allosteric 리보자임은 NS5B RNA replicase와 특이적으로 결합하는 RNA aptamer 부위, aptamer와 NS5B와의 결합에 의해 리보자임 활성을 유도할 수 있도록 구조적 변이를 전달할 수 있는 communication module부위 및 HCV IRES의 +382 nt를 인지하는 hammerhead 리보자임 등으로 구성되도록 설계하였다. 특히 in vitro selection기법을 활용하여 NS5B 의존적으로 리보자임 활성을 증가시킬 수 있는 communication module 염기서열을 밝혀내었다. 이러한 리보자임은 단백질이 없거나 대조 단백질인 bovine serum albumin이 존재할 때에는 절단반응을 유도하지 못하였으나 HCV NS5B 단백질이 존재할 매에만 효과적으로 NS5B 농도 의존적으로 절단 반응을 유도할 수 있음을 관찰하였다. 이러한 allosteric 리보자임은 HCV중식의 효과적인 증식 억제 선도물질 뿐만 아니라 HCV 치료선도물질의 스크리닝용 도구 및 HCV 조절 인자를 탐색할 수 있는 HCV 진단용 리간드로서도 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권12호
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• pp.1744-1754
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• 2014

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome is replicated by an RNA replicase complex (RC) consisting of cellular proteins and viral nonstructural (NS) proteins, including NS5B, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and key enzyme for viral RNA genome replication. The HCV RC is known to be associated with an intracellular membrane structure, but the cellular components of the RC and their roles in the formation of the HCV RC have not been well characterized. In this study, we took a proteomic approach to identify stomatin, a member of the integral proteins of lipid rafts, as a cellular protein interacting with HCV NS5B. Co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization studies confirmed the interaction between stomatin and NS5B. We demonstrated that the subcellular fraction containing viral NS proteins and stomatin displays RdRp activity. Membrane flotation assays with the HCV genome replication-competent subcellular fraction revealed that the HCV RdRp and stomatin are associated with the lipid raft-like domain of membranous structures. Stomatin silencing by RNA interference led to the release of NS5B from the detergent-resistant membrane, thereby inhibiting HCV replication in both HCV subgenomic replicon-harboring cells and HCV-infected cells. Our results identify stomatin as a cellular protein that plays a role in the formation of an enzymatically active HCV RC on a detergent-resistant membrane structure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권10호
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• pp.1634-1639
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• 2006

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-encoded nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) possesses RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, which is considered essential for viral proliferation. Thus, HCV NS5B is a good therapeutic target protein for the development of anti-HCV agents. In this study, we isolated two different kinds of nuclease-resistant RNA aptamers with 2'-fluoro pyrimidines against the HCV NS5B from a combinatorial RNA library with 40 nucleotide random sequences, using SELEX technology. The isolated RNA aptamers were observed to specifically and avidly bind the HCV NS5B with an apparent $K_d$ of 5 nM and 18 nM, respectively, in contrast with the original RNA library that hardly bound the target protein. Moreover, these aptamers could partially inhibit RNA synthesis of the HCV subgenomic replicon when transfected into Huh-7 hepatoma cell lines. These results suggest that the RNA aptamers selected in vitro could be useful not only as therapeutic agents of HCV infection but also as a powerful tool for the study of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase mechanism.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.330-336
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• 2006

Since its identification in 1989, hepatitis C virus has been the subject of extensive research. The biology of the virus and the development of antiviral drugs are closely related. The RNA polymerase activity of nonstructural protein 5B was first demonstrated in 1996. NS5B is believed to localize to the perinuclear region, forming a replicase complex with other viral proteins. It has a typical polymerase structure with thumb, palm, and finger domains encircling the active site. A de novo replication initiation mechanism has been suggested. To date, many small molecule inhibitors are known including nucleoside analogues, non-nucleoside analogues, and pyrophosphate mimics. NS5B interacts with other viral proteins such as core, NS3, 4A, 4B, and 5A. The helicase activity of NS3 seems necessary for RNA strand unwinding during replication, with other nonstructural proteins performing modulatory roles. Cellular proteins interacting with NS5B include VAMP-associated proteins, heIF4AII, hPLIC1, nucleolin, PRK2, ${\alpha}$-actinin, and p68 helicase. The interactions of NS5B with these proteins might play roles in cellular trafficking, signal transduction, and RNA polymerization, as well as the regulation of replication/translation processes.