HCV NS4 (1916-1947 a.a.)

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a positive, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. The virus is responsible for a significant proportion of chronic viral hepatitis cases worldwide, which can progress to severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV genome encodes a single polyprotein of approximately 3,000 amino acids, which is processed into structural and nonstructural proteins by host and viral proteases.

The nonstructural protein 4 (NS4) of HCV is a crucial component of the viral replication complex. It is divided into two segments: NS4A and NS4B. NS4A acts as a cofactor for the NS3 serine protease, stabilizing its folding and facilitating its enzymatic activity. NS4B, on the other hand, is a relatively hydrophobic protein that plays a role in the formation of the membranous web, a structure essential for viral RNA replication.

The recombinant NS4 protein fragment, spanning amino acids 1916 to 1947, is expressed in Escherichia coli and is used extensively in research. This fragment is part of the larger NS4 protein and retains significant antigenic properties, making it valuable for various immunological assays.

Recombinant NS4 (1916-1947 a.a.) is utilized in several applications, including:

• SDS-PAGE: For analyzing protein purity and molecular weight.
• ELISA: For detecting antibodies against HCV in serum samples.
• Western Blotting: For identifying specific proteins in a sample.
• Flow Cytometry: For analyzing protein expression on the cell surface.

The recombinant NS4 protein fragment is crucial for studying the antigenic heterogeneity of HCV proteins. It helps in understanding the immune response against HCV and in developing diagnostic assays. The high purity (>95%) of the recombinant protein ensures reliable and reproducible results in various experimental setups .