Effects of C3U mutation on HCV RNA replication and translation.

(A) HCV RNA replication was monitored by the expression of GLuc secreted into the supernatants of wild-type and C3U RNA transfected Huh7.5 cells. Supernatants were collected at the indicated time points. (B) Wild-type and C3U H77.S3/GLuc RNA abundances three days post-transfection in untreated and cells treated with the NS5B inhibitor sofosbuvir (500nM). (C) Effects of C3U mutation on HCV core protein levels examined by Western blot analysis at three days post-H77.S3/GLuc RNA transfection. (D) Translation of the replication defective (AAG) wild-type and C3U H77.S3/GLuc RNAs at multiple several points post-transfection. The data are representative of 3 independent replicates (****p<0.0001,Student’s t-test).