hcv helicase

HCV NS3 displays three enzymatic activities: serine protease, NTPase, and RNA helicase. HCV NS3 serine protease, in association with NS4A, is responsible for the cleavages of NS3-NS4A, NS4A-NS4B, NS4B-NS5A, and NS5A-NS5B. HCV NS3 RNA helicase binds to RNA and unwinds dsRNA in the 3' to 5' direction, and likely RNA stable secondary structure in the template strand (By similarity). Cleaves and inhibits the host antiviral protein MAVS. NS3 NS4A complex also prevents phosphorylation of human IRF3, thus preventing the establishment of dsRNA induced antiviral state. One of the HCV proteases, NS3-4A serine protease, is a non-covalent heterodimer consisting of a catalytic subunit (the N-terminal one-third of NS3 protein) and an activating cofactor (NS4A protein) and is responsible for cleavage at four sites of the HCV polyprotein.