FIG. 3.
Gel mobility shift assay of HCV NS5B protein and the viral RNA. The binding assay was conducted with HCV NS5B protein and the 5BCR RNA as a probe by increasing the amounts of competitor RNAs. (A) The competitor RNAs were the unlabeled 5BCR-UTR, 5BCR, and 3′ UTR RNAs. (B) The competitor RNAs were the 5BCRa, 5BCRb, and homopolymer of poly(U) RNAs. Lanes 1, labeled 5BCR RNA as a marker for free RNA; lanes 2, probe RNA with LysN; lanes 3, probe RNA with NS5B. In the mixture of NS5B and the probe RNA, the unlabeled competitor RNAs of 1- (lanes 4, 7, and 10), 5- (lanes 5, 8, and 11), and 10-fold (lanes 6, 9, and 12) molar excess to the probe RNA were added. The products of the RNA-protein complex and free RNA are indicated at the right of each gel.