Hepatitis c virus (hcv) ns5b rna polymerase and mutants thereof

摘要

The present invention generally relates to viral RNA polymerases, which are essential to viral reproduction and propagation in a host. Viral RNA polymerases are known to play a role in the replication of the virus once it has infected its host. The present invention relates to mutants of native Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA polymerase, said mutants imparting improved crystallization properties of the enzyme and enzyme/compound complexes. The present invention also relates to the isolation and identification of an allosteric binding cleft within the HCV NS5B RNA polymerase and its use in the discovery, identification, and characterization of inhibitors of same. <IMAGE>