FIG. 2.

Replication and infectivity of core mutants generated in the first basic cluster. (A) Replication of core protein mutants was measured by Gaussia luciferase activity at 72 h postelectroporation. Values are expressed relative to the quantity of luciferase activity measured at 4 h postelectroporation. (B) Determination of infectious virus production released from transfected cells. Supernatants were harvested at 72 h postelectroporation and were assayed by endpoint dilution assays of FFU using naïve Huh-7 cells. Means and standard errors of the means of results from at least duplicate electroporations are shown. (C) T7 RNA transcripts were obtained from plasmids containing the HCV IRES and core protein-coding sequences of the first cluster mutants. Transcripts were then translated for 1 h in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate with addition of [³⁵S]methionine in the reaction mixture. Arrows indicate monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric forms of the core protein. The nonspecific band is indicated by an asterisk. RLU, relative light units.