FIG. 7.

NTR preferences of intergenotypic replicase chimeras. Genotype Con1-based luciferase replicons harboring the sequences of different nonstructural proteins from isolate JFH1 were fused to the 5′ NTR and 3′ X tail from JFH1 (5′ X JFH), Con1 (5′ XCon), or mixed NTRs (5′ Con/X JFH and 5′ JFH/X Con) and tested for replication efficiency as described in the legend to Fig. 6B. Schematic drawings of replicons are shown at the top of panels A to D. JFH1- or Con1-derived sequences are given in black or white, respectively; portions given in gray are variable within one panel. luc, firefly luciferase; EI, encephalomyocarditis virus IRES; VR, variable region and poly(U/UC) tract of the HCV 3′ NTR; X, X tail. For a detailed description of the luciferase replicons, refer to the legend to Fig. 1A.