Visualisation and analysis of hepatitis C virus non-structural proteins using super-resolution microscopy

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 11;8(1):13604. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31861-0.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication occurs in the cytosol of infected cells within a specialised membranous compartment. How the viral non-structural (NS) proteins are associated and organised within these structures remains poorly defined. We employed a super-resolution microscopy approach to visualise NS3 and NS5A in HCV infected cells. Using single molecule localisation microscopy, both NS proteins were resolved as clusters of localisations smaller than the diffraction-limited volume observed by wide-field. Analysis of the protein clusters identified a significant difference in size between the NS proteins. We also observed a reduction in NS5A cluster size following inhibition of RNA replication using daclatasvir, a phenotype which was maintained in the presence of the Y93H resistance associated substitution and not observed for NS3 clusters. These results provide insight into the NS protein organisation within hepatitis C virus RNA replication complexes and the mode of action of NS5A inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Carbamates
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / pathogenicity
  • Hepacivirus / ultrastructure*
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis C / genetics
  • Hepatitis C / virology*
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles
  • Microscopy
  • Pyrrolidines
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / drug effects
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Valine / analogs & derivatives
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / ultrastructure*
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Carbamates
  • Imidazoles
  • NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • Pyrrolidines
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus
  • Valine
  • daclatasvir