HCV GENE

摘要

The present invention provides a hepatitis C virus gene, a replicon RNA derived from the gene, a replicon-replicating cell into which the replicon RNA is introduced, and a method for screening a drug using the replicon-replicating cell. By introducing a replicon RNA comprising (A) a polynucleotide having the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 5; (B) a polynucleotide having the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 7; (C) a polynucleotide coding for a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 6; (D) a polynucleotide coding for a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8; or (E) a polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence having a homology of not less than 90% with the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 7; or a replicon RNA of the genotype 1b comprising nucleotides coding for the 1804th amino acid leucine and the 1966th amino acid lysine in the amino acid sequence of a hepatitis C virus polyprotein and a polynucleotide coding for an NS4B protein, into a cell, the replicon-replicating cell can be prepared. By using the replicon-replicating cell, the screening for the drug can be carried out.