Figure 3. Release of HCV core into the supernatant of transfected cells depends on the expression of functional glycoproteins.

Ten µg of in vitro transcribed RNA of the constructs specified below each bar were transfected into Huh-7 cells and 24 h later culture medium was harvested and filtered, whereas cells were lysed with 1% Triton X-100 in PBS. The total amount of HCV core in the cell lysate (A) and culture supernatant (B) was determined by ELISA. (C) Relative core release expressed as the fraction (in %) of total intracellular core protein that is released into the culture fluid. Mean values of two independent electroporations including the standard error of the means are given.