US2003027317A1PendingUtilityA1

Hepatitis C virus protease

Priority: Apr 4, 1990Filed: Jun 18, 2001Published: Feb 6, 2003
Est. expiryApr 4, 2010(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
C07K 14/00C12N 9/506C07K 2319/00C12N 9/90C07K 2319/95C12N 9/0089C12N 2770/24222A61K 38/00C07K 14/005C07K 2319/02
60
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

The protease necessary for polyprotein processing in Hepatitis C virus is identified, cloned, and expressed. Proteases, truncated protease, and altered proteaces are disclosed which are useful for cleavage of specific polypeptides, and for assay and design of antiviral agents specific for HCV.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A composition comprising a purified proteolytic polypeptide derived from Hepatitis C virus.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide has a partial internal sequence substantially as follows: 
 Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Thr Arg Thr.    
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide has a partial internal sequence substantially as follows: 
 Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Pro Leu.    
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said polypeptide has substantially the partial internal sequence:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Arg Arg Gly Arg Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp Gly Met Val Ser Lys Gly 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Trp Arg Leu Leu Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr Ala Gln Gln Thr Arg Gly Leu Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Cys Ile Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Asp Lys Asn Gln Val Glu Gly Glu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Val Gln Ile Val Ser Thr Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe Leu Ala Thr Cys Ile Asn Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                   Val Cys Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Thr Arg Thr Ile Ala Ser Pro Lys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Pro Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr Asn Val Asp Gln Asp Leu Val Gly Trp Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ala Pro Gln Gly Ser Arg Ser Leu Thr Pro Cys Thr Cys Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Tyr Leu Val Thr Arg His Ala Asp Val Ile Pro Val Arg Arg Arg Gly Asp Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg Gly Ser Leu Leu Ser Pro Arg Pro Ile Ser Tyr Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Pro Leu Leu Cys Pro Ala Gly His Ala Val Gly Ile Phe Arg Ala Ala Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Cys Thr Arg Gly Val Ala Lys Ala Val Asp Phe Ile Pro Val Glu Asn Leu Glu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Thr Thr Met Arg. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide has substantially the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1.  
     
     
         6 . A fusion protein, comprising: 
 a suitable fusion partner, fused to    a proteolytic polypeptide derived from Hepatitis C virus.    
     
     
         7 . The fusion protein of  claim 6 , wherein said fusion partner comprises human superoxide dismutase.  
     
     
         8 . The fusion protein of  claim 6 , wherein said proteolytic polypeptide has a partial internal sequence substantially as follows: 
 Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Thr Arg Thr.    
     
     
         9 . The fusion protein of  claim 6 , wherein said proteolytic polypeptide has a partial internal sequence substantially as follows: 
 Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Pro Leu.    
     
     
         10 . The fusion protein of  claim 6 , wherein said proteolytic polypeptide has as a partial internal sequence:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Arg Arg Gly Arg Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp Gly Met Val Ser 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Lys Gly Trp Arg Leu Leu Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr Ala Gln Gln Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg Gly Leu Leu Gly Cys Ile Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Asp Lys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Gln Val Glu Gly Glu Val Gln Ile Val Ser Thr Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Ala Thr Cys Ile Asn Gly Val Cys Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Thr Arg Thr Ile Ala Ser Pro Lys Gly Pro Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Val Asp Gln Asp Leu Val Gly Trp Pro Ala Pro Gln Gly Ser Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ser Leu Thr Pro Cys Thr Cys Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg His Ala Asp Val Ile Pro Val Arg Arg Arg Gly Asp Ser Arg Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ser Leu Leu Ser Pro Arg Pro Ile Ser Tyr Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Leu Leu Cys Pro Ala Gly His Ala Val Gly Ile Phe Arg Ala Ala Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Cys Thr Arg Gly Val Ala Lys Ala Val Asp Phe Ile Pro Val Glu Asn 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Glu Thr Thr Met Arg. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         11 . The fusion protein of  claim 6 , wherein said fusion partner is ubiquitin.  
     
     
         12 . A composition comprising a polynucleotide which encodes only the HCV protease or an active HCV protease analog.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said polynucleotide encodes the HCV protease of FIG. 1.  
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising a polynucleotide which encodes a fusion protein comprising: 
 HCV protease or HCV protease analog; and    a fusion partner.    
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said fusion partner is selected from the group consisting of hSOD, yeast a-factor, IL-2S, ubiquitin, β-galactosidase, β-lactamase, horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase, and urease.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said HCV protease or HCV protease analog comprises a polypeptide having substantially the following sequence:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Arg Arg Gly Arg Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp Gly Met Val Ser 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Lys Gly Trp Arg Leu Leu Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr Ala Gln Gln Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg Gly Leu Leu Gly Cys Ile Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Asp Lys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Gln Val Glu Gly Glu Val Gln Ile Val Ser Thr Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Ala Thr Cys Ile Asn Gly Val Cys Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Thr Arg Thr Ile Ala Ser Pro Lys Gly Pro Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Val Asp Gln Asp Leu Val Gly Trp Pro Ala Pro Gln Gly Ser Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ser Leu Thr Pro Cys Thr Cys Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg His Ala Asp Val Ile Pro Val Arg Arg Arg Gly Asp Ser Arg Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ser Leu Leu Ser Pro Arg Pro Ile Ser Tyr Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Leu Leu Cys Pro Ala Gly His Ala Var Gly Ile Phe Arg Ala Ala Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Cys Thr Arg Gly Val Ala Lys Ala Val Asp Phe Ile Pro Val Glu Asn 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Glu Thr Thr Met Arg. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said HCV protease or analog comprises a polypeptide having substantially the sequence:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Gly Thr Tyr Val Tyr Asn His Leu Thr Pro Leu Arg Asp Trp Ala His 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Gly Leu Arg Asp Leu Ala Val Ala Val Glu Pro Val Val Phe Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gln Met Glu Thr Lys Leu Ile Thr Trp Gly Ala Asp Thr Ala Ala Cys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Asp Ile Ile Asn Gly Leu Pro Val Ser Ala Arg Arg Gly Arg Glu Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp Gly Met Val Ser Lys Gly Trp Arg Leu Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr Ala Glu Glu Thr Arg Gly Leu Leu Gly Cys Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Asp Lys Asn Gln Val Gln Gly Gln Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gln Ile Val Ser Thr Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe Leu Ala Thr Cys Ile Ile Asn 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Val Cys Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Thr Arg Thr Ile Ala Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Lys Gly Pro Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr Arg Val Asp Gln Asp Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Val Gly Trp Pro Ala Ser Gln Gly Thr Arg Ser Leu Thr Pro Cys Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Cys Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Thr Arg His Ala Asp Val Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Val Arg Arg Arg Gly Asp Ser Arg Gly Ser Leu Leu Ser Pro Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Ile Ser Tyr Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Pro Leu Leu Cys Pro Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly His Ala Val Gly Ile Phe Arg Ala Ala Val Cys Thr Arg Gly Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ala Lys Ala Val Asp Phe Ile Pro Val Gln Arg Leu Gln Thr Thr Met 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg Ser Pro Val Phe Thr Asp Asn Ser Ser Pro Pro Val Val Pro Gln Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Phe Gln Val Ala His Leu His Ala Pro Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Thr Lys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Val Pro Ala Ala. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said polypeptide has substantially the sequence:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Gly Thr Tyr Val Tyr Arg His Leu Thr Pro Leu Arg Asp Trp Ala His 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Gly Leu Arg Asp Leu Ala Val Ala Val Glu Pro Val Val Phe Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gln Met Glu Thr Lys Leu Ile Thr Trp Gly Ala Asp Thr Ala Ala Cys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Asp Ile Ile Asn Gly Leu Pro Val Ser Ala Arg Arg Gly Arg Gln Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp Gly Met Val Ser Lys Gly Trp Arg Leu Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr Ala Gln Gln Thr Arg Gly Leu Leu Gly Cys Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Asp Lys Asn Gln Val Glu Gly Glu Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gln Ile Val Ser Thr Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe Leu Ala Thr Cys Ile Ile Asn 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Val Cys Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Thr Arg Thr Ile Ala Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Lys Gly Pro Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr Asn Val Asp Gln Asp Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Val Gly Trp Pro Ala Ser Gln Gly Thr Arg Ser Leu Thr Pro Cys Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Cys Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Thr Arg His Ala Asp Val Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Val Arg. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         19 . A method for assaying compounds for activity against hepatitis C virus, comprising: 
 providing an active hepatitis C virus protease;    contacting said protease with a compound capable of inhibiting serine protease activity; and    measuring inhibition of the proteolytic activity of said hepatitis C virus protease.    
     
     
         20 . An expression vector for producing HCV protease or HCV protease analogs in a host cell, which vector comprises: 
 a polynucleotide encoding HCV protease or an HCV analog;    transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences functional in said host cell operably linked to said HCV protease-encoding polynucleotide; and    a selectable marker.    
     
     
         21 . The vector of  claim 20 , which further comprises a sequence encoding a fusion partner, linked to said HCV protease-encoding polynucleotide to form a fusion protein upon expression.  
     
     
         22 . The vector of  claim 21 , wherein said fusion partner is selected from the group consisting of hSOD, yeast a-factor, IL-2S, ubiquitin, β-galactosidase, β-lactamase, horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase, and urease.  
     
     
         23 . The vector of  claim 22 , wherein said fusion partner is selected from the group consisting of ubiquitin, hSOD, and yeast α-factor.  
     
     
         24 . The vector of  claim 20 , wherein said HCV protease-encoding polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide having the substantially the following sequence:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Arg Arg Gly Arg Gln Ile Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp Gly Met Val Ser 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Lys Gly Trp Arg Leu Leu Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr Ala Gln Gln Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg Gly Leu Leu Gly Cys Ile Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Asp Lys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Gln Val Glu Gly Glu Val Gln Ile Val Ser Thr Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Ala Thr Cys Ile Asn Gly Val Cys Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Thr Arg Thr Ile Ala Ser Pro Lys Gly Pro Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Val Asp Gln Asp Leu Val Gly Trp Pro Ala Pro Gln Gly Ser Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ser Leu Thr Pro Cys Thr Cys Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg His Ala Asp Val Ile Pro Val Arg Arg Arg Gly Asp Ser Arg Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ser Leu Leu Ser Pro Arg Pro Ile Ser Tyr Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Leu Leu Cys Pro Ala Gly His Ala Val Gly Ile Phe Arg Ala Ala Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Cys Thr Arg Gly Val Ala Lys Ala Val Asp Phe Ile Pro Val Glu Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Glu Thr Thr Met Arg. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         25 . The vector of  claim 20 , wherein said HCV protease-encoding polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide having the substantially the following sequence:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Gly Thr Tyr Val Tyr Asn His Leu Thr Pro Leu Arg Asp Trp Ala His 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Gly Leu Arg Asp Leu Ala Val Ala Val Gln Pro Val Val Phe Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gln Met Glu Thr Lys Leu Ile Thr Trp Gly Ala Asp Thr Ala Ala Cys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Asp Ile Ile Arg Gly Leu Pro Val Ser Ala Arg Arg Gly Arg Glu Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp Gly Met Val Ser Lys Gly Trp Arg Leu Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr Ala Gln Gln Thr Arg Gly Leu Leu Gly Cys Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Asp Lys Asn Gln Val Glu Gly Glu Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gln Ile Val Ser Thr Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe Leu Ala Thr Cys Ile Ile Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Val Cys Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Thr Arg Thr Ile Ala Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Lys Gly Pro Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr Asn Val Asp Gln Asp Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Val Gly Trp Pro Ala Ser Gln Gly Thr Arg Ser Leu Thr Pro Cys Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Cys Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Thr Arg His Ala Asp Val Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Val Arg. 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         26 . The vector of  claim 20 , wherein said HCV protease-encoding polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide having the substantially the following sequence:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                   Gly Thr Tyr Val Tyr Asn His Leu Thr Pro Leu Arg Asp Trp Ala His 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Asn Gly Leu Arg Asp Leu Ala Val Ala Val Gln Pro Val Val Phe Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gln Met Gln Thr Lys Leu Ile Thr Trp Gly Ala Asp Thr Ala Ala Cys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Asp Ile Ile Asn Gly Leu Pro Val Ser Ala Arg Arg Gly Arg Glu Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp Gly Met Val Ser Lys Gly Trp Arg Leu Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr Ala Gln Gln Thr Arg Gly Leu Leu Gly Cys Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr Gly Arg Asp Lys Asn Gln Val Glu Gly Glu Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gln Ile Val Ser Thr Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe Leu Ala Thr Cys Ile Ile Asn 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly Val Cys Trp Thr Val Tyr His Gly Ala Gly Thr Arg Thr Ile Ala Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Lys Gly Pro Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr Asn Val Asp Gln Asp Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                   Val Gly Trp Pro Ala Ser Gln Gly Thr Arg Ser Leu Thr Pro Cys Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                   Cys Gly Ser Ser Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Thr Arg His Ala Asp Val Ile 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Val Arg Arg Arg Gly Asp Ser Arg Gly Ser Leu Leu Ser Pro Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                   Pro Ile Ser Tyr Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Pro Leu Leu Cys Pro Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                   Gly His Ala Val Gly Ile Phe Arg Ala Ala Val Cys Thr Arg Gly Val 
                 
                     
                 
                   Ala Lys Ala Val Asp Phe Ile Pro Val Gln Asn Leu Gln Thr Thr Met 
                 
                     
                 
                   Arg Ser Pro Val Phe Thr Asp Asn Ser Ser Pro Pro Val Val Pro Gln Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                   Phe Gln Val Ala His Leu His Ala Pro Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Thr Lys 
                 
                     
                 
                   Val Pro Ala Ala.

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