Fig. 1.

Activation of the Nrf2/ARE cascade by domain 1 of the NS5A protein results in the translocation of the Nrf2 transcription factor from the cytoplasm into the nucleus (A) and induction of human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) (B, C). Intracellular localization of factor Nrf2 was determined by separation of cytoplasmic (Cyt) and nuclear (Nu) protein fractions, with subsequent detection of Nrf2 by immunoblotting. Quantification of the Nqo1 and HO-1 expression levels was performed by reverse transcription and real-time PCR (B) and immunoblotting (C). * p < 0.01 and **p < 0.05 compared to pVax1.