About 3% of world population is infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV infection often leads to chronic hepatitis and about one third of patients develop cirrhosis and a minority of those develops hepatocellular carcinoma. The infection is also associated with fatty liver disease. HCV replicates its RNA genome within ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNP) consisting of viral and host cellular factors. One such host factor, termed oxysterol binding protein (OSBP) was identified by an affinity based approach by us. Subsequent studies revealed that OSBP was necessary for HCV secretion/release with no obvious effect on intracellular RNA replication. It belongs to group of proteins referred to as phosphatidyinosito-4 phosphate (PI4P)-interacting proteins. In this application, we focus on the investigation of OSBP and two other PI4P-interacting proteins, CERT and GOLPH3 in HCV maturation/secretion pathway. Role of Golgi kinase PKD in HCV maturation will also investigated. HCV maturation/secretion, which likely occurs in the Golgi compartment, is widely believed to occur in association with very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles. We propose to characterize the HCV maturation process through Golgi compartments by confocal laser microscopy and immunofluorescence in the context of OSBP and VLDL secretory pathway. VLDL particles are secreted via specialized VLDL transport vesicles (VTVs). Using an established biochemical fractionation procedure of isolation of VTVs, we propose to determine the association of HCV components with VTVs. Characterization of VTVs in HCV infected cells containing HCV virion components is of fundamental importance in understanding the HCV morphogenesis. Identification of host factors involved in this assembly/secretion process will also open new avenues for designing novel antiviral strategies. These studies will reveal unique insights into the mechanisms of HCV maturation, secretion and budding processes and provide a unique model for other RNA viruses.

Public Health Relevance

HCV infections progresses to cirrhosis, steatosis, and liver cancer and are the leading indications for liver transplants thus representing a major public health burden. About 3% of world population is infected with HCV.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI085087-04
Application #
8484783
Study Section
Virology - B Study Section (VIRB)
Program Officer
Koshy, Rajen
Project Start
2010-07-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$359,444
Indirect Cost
$126,794
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Kim, Seong-Jun; Ahn, Dae-Gyun; Syed, Gulam H et al. (2018) The essential role of mitochondrial dynamics in antiviral immunity. Mitochondrion 41:21-27
Kim, Seong-Jun; Jang, Jae Young; Kim, Eun-Jung et al. (2017) Ginsenoside Rg3 restores hepatitis C virus-induced aberrant mitochondrial dynamics and inhibits virus propagation. Hepatology 66:758-771
Syed, Gulam H; Khan, Mohsin; Yang, Song et al. (2017) Hepatitis C Virus Lipoviroparticles Assemble in the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) and Bud off from the ER to the Golgi Compartment in COPII Vesicles. J Virol 91:
Khan, Mohsin; Syed, Gulam Hussain; Kim, Seong-Jun et al. (2015) Mitochondrial dynamics and viral infections: A close nexus. Biochim Biophys Acta 1853:2822-33
Till, Andreas; Saito, Rintaro; Merkurjev, Daria et al. (2015) Evolutionary trends and functional anatomy of the human expanded autophagy network. Autophagy 11:1652-67
Slagle, Betty L; Andrisani, Ourania M; Bouchard, Michael J et al. (2015) Technical standards for hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) research. Hepatology 61:1416-24
Kim, Seong-Jun; Syed, Gulam H; Khan, Mohsin et al. (2014) Hepatitis C virus triggers mitochondrial fission and attenuates apoptosis to promote viral persistence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:6413-8
Syed, Gulam Hussain; Tang, Huihui; Khan, Mohsin et al. (2014) Hepatitis C virus stimulates low-density lipoprotein receptor expression to facilitate viral propagation. J Virol 88:2519-29
Kim, Seong-Jun; Syed, Gulam H; Siddiqui, Aleem (2013) Hepatitis C virus induces the mitochondrial translocation of Parkin and subsequent mitophagy. PLoS Pathog 9:e1003285
Bishé, Bryan; Syed, Gulam H; Field, Seth J et al. (2012) Role of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) and its binding protein GOLPH3 in hepatitis C virus secretion. J Biol Chem 287:27637-47

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