Recombinant production of the amino terminal cytoplasmic region of dengue virus non-structural protein 4A for structural studies.

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-transmitted positive single strand RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. DENV causes dengue fever, currently the world's fastest-spreading tropical disease. Severe forms of the disease like dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome are life-threatening.

An N-terminal amphipathic helix in dengue virus nonstructural protein 4A mediates oligomerization and is essential for replication.

Dengue virus (DENV) causes dengue fever, a major health concern worldwide. We identified an amphipathic helix (AH) in the N-terminal region of the viral nonstructural protein 4A (NS4A). Disruption of its amphipathic nature using mutagenesis reduced homo-oligomerization and abolished viral replication.