The 3a protein increases lysosomal accumulation of IFNAR1.

<p>Huh7 cells were grown on coverslips placed in the wells of 6-well dishes and transfected with 2.5 µg of plasmid pECFP or p3a-ECFP. After 48 hr, the cells were washed and stained with Lysotracker as well as an anti-IFNAR1 antibody, as described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0008342#s4" target="_blank">Materials and Methods</a>. The cells were then imaged with a confocal microscope, the images quantitated and colocalization coefficients calculated as described. Separate images for Lysotracker (red), IFNAR1 (green) and ECFP/3a-ECFP (cyan) are shown, together with merged images for Lysotracker and IFNAR1. Scale bar, 10 µm. The bar graph shows Pearson's colocalization coefficients; p = 1.8×10⁻⁷.