Identification of in vivo interaction between Hepatitis C Virus core protein and 5′ and 3′ UTR RNA

Here, we investigated the ability of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) core protein to interact specifically with the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of HCV using an in vivo cell-based translation inhibition assay. HCV core protein interacts weakly but specifically with the SLIII stem loop in the 5′ UTR in which the SLIIIb subdomain is the major determinant and the SL2 loop in the X region of the 3′ UTR. These results revealed for the first time in vivo interaction of the core protein with 5′ and 3′ UTRs involved in the viral life cycle. This system provides a useful tool for further investigating interactions between the HCV core protein and 5′ and 3′ UTRs.