FIG. 3.
HCV NS3/4A protease catalytic efficiency in HeLa cells as a function of the ratio of sensor (ECFP-CSwt-citrine) to protease (pscNS3/4APt1) DNA in the transfection mix. The scatter plots show the distribution of Eapp found in single cells. The results for the experimental samples were compared to those for the control (sensor alone without scNS3/4A) by using one-way ANOVA with Dunnett's posttest. The P value was <0.01 for all comparisons. (A) The ratio of pECFP-CSwt-Citrine to pscNS3/4APt1 DNA in the transfection mix was decreased (from 1/1 to 1/60); therefore, the protease expression level was expected to increase. (B) The ratio of pECFP-CSwt-Citrine to pscNS3/4APt1 DNA in the transfection mix was increased (from 1/1 to 20/1); therefore, the protease expression level was expected to decrease. (C) Eapp decreased with the expected expression level of protease NS3/4A at low sensor/protease DNA ratios.