Patent ID: 7894996
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: A61P,C07K,C12N,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying a Hepatitis C virus (HCV) inhibitor in an inhibitor screening assay comprising: (a) determining the three-dimensional structure of the N-terminal domain I-Δh of an NS5A protein crystal, wherein said NS5A N-terminal domain I-Δh protein comprises a protein with at least 90% identity to amino acids 36-199 of SEQ ID NO: 4 and wherein said crystal has space group P4 (b) selecting or designing a potential inhibitor by performing rational drug design with said three-dimensional structure determined in part (a) wherein said selecting or designing is performed in conjunction with computer modeling; (c) contacting said potential inhibitor with an N-terminal domain of an NS5A protein of hepatitis C virus; and (d) detecting an ability of said potential inhibitor for inhibiting infection or replication of a hepatitis C virus.