Role of HCV core protein in yeast two-hybrid system in reporter gene expression and activation

AIM: To construct the bait vector of HCV core protein in yeast two-hybrid system and then to study its effect on the growth of yeast cells and the activation of reporter genes. METHODS: cDNA fragments encoding HCV core region were amplified by PCR and subsequently cloned into pUC19. After verified by sequencing, they were subcloned into the bait vector pGBKT7 of yeast two-hybrid system. These recombinant plasmids were transferred into AH109 and they activated the reporter genes. RESULTS: The fragments of HCV core protein were successfully obtained, which were not toxic to AH109 but could not activate the reporter genes. CONCLUSION: Yeast two-hybrid GAL4 system 3 can be utilized to fish HCV core region-interacting protein. HCV core protein does not have self-activating function.