FIG. 5.

The HCV core specifically inhibits HCV IRES-directed translation in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were infected with RecVV-HBC or RecVV-HCC for 15 h to allow the expression of the HBV and HCV core proteins, respectively. The cells were then cotransfected with the respective IRES elements and capped-luciferase RNA. The levels of IRES-directed translation in HBV core protein-positive cells were normalized to 100% after adjusting for the transfection efficiency as determined by luciferase activity, and the relative IRES efficiencies from HCV core-positive cells were calculated.