FIG 4.

Effects of E1 mutations on HCV core protein secretion. Huh-7 cells were electroporated with wild-type or mutant viral RNAs. The levels of core protein in supernatants and cell lysates were determined at 48 h postelectroporation. Error bars indicate standard error of the means from at least three independent experiments. Values of core protein were compared to the wild-type value. Differences were considered statistically significant for extracellular mutants G278A, D279A, G282A, L286A, Q302A, E303A Y309A, and P341A (P < 0.05).