[Study of the down-regulating effect of hepatitis C virus NS5A protein on NACA promoter].

Objective: To investigate the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structure protein NS5A on the activity of calcium-regulating protein alpha subunit of nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NACA) promoter.

Methods: HepG2 cell plasmid pCAT3-NACA, containing NACA promoter, was transfected alone or cotransfected with pcDNA3.1(-)-NS5A, and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) enzyme activity was assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).

Results: The CAT activity in the pcDNA3.1(-)-NS5A cotransfection group was 20.7% of the CAT activity in the pCAT3-NACA group.

Conclusion: HCV non-structural protein NS5A has a down-regulating effect on the promoter of NACA gene.