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7000816 
Journal Article 
The p7 protein of hepatitis C virus forms an ion channel that is blocked by the antiviral drug, Amantadine 
Griffin, SDC; Beales, LP; Clarke, DS; Worsfold, O; Evans, SD; Jaeger, J; Harris, MPG; Rowlands, DJ; , 
2003 
Yes 
FEBS Letters
ISSN: 0014-5793
EISSN: 1873-3468 
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV 
AMSTERDAM 
34-38 
12560074 
WOS:000180734900008 
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cannot be grown in vitro, making biochemical identification of new drug targets especially important. HCV p7 is a small hydrophobic protein of unknown function, yet necessary for particle infectivity in related viruses [Harada, T. et al., (2000) J. Virol. 74, 9498-9506]. We show that p7 can be cross-linked in vivo as hexamers. Escherichia coli expressed p7 fusion proteins also form hexamers in vitro. These and HIS-tagged p7 function as calcium ion channels in black lipid membranes. This activity is abrogated by Amantadine, a compound that inhibits ion channels of influenza [Hay, A.J. et al. (1985) EMBO J. 4, 3021-3024; Duff, K.C. and Ashley, R.H. (1992) Virology 190, 485-489] and has recently been shown to be active in combination with current HCV therapies. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.