Fig 8. Dimerization and trans-cleavage in the linker-tag fusion context.

Protein extracts were prepared from cells expressing or co-expressing the indicated fusion polypeptides, which comprise HCV NS2 with either native (WT) or mutated catalytic triads [by alanine substitution of cysteine (CA) or histidine (HA) residues] in C-terminal fusion with the indicated sequences and tag: either HCV NS3 followed by strep-tag (NS3-ST), or linker 4GS followed by GFP (4GS-GFP) or strep-tag (4GS-ST). Protein extracts were separated by SDS-PAGE and probed with anti-GFP antibodies (A; B, upper image) or anti-ST antibodies (B, lower image). Uncleaved precursors and cleaved products are indicated by closed and open arrowheads, respectively. Cleaved products are also marked by color-coded asterisks (GFP-reactive products in green and ST-reactive products in blue).