Efficient hepatitis C virus particle formation requires diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1.

Herker, Eva; Harris, Charles; Hernandez, Céline; Carpentier, Arnaud; Kaehlcke, Katrin; Rosenberg, Arielle R; Farese, Robert V; Ott, Melanie · Nat Med · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is closely tied to the lipid metabolism of liver cells. Here we identify the triglyceride-synthesizing enzyme diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1) as a key host factor for HCV infection. DGAT1 interacts with the viral nucleocapsid core and is required for the trafficking of core to lipid droplets. Inhibition of DGAT1 activity or RNAi-mediated knockdown of DGAT1 severely impairs infectious virion production, implicating DGAT1 as a new target for antiviral therapy.

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