Fusion Expression of Hepatitis C Virus Core Region and NS3 Region in E ．coli

The gene encoding the core and NS3 proteins of hepatitis C virus was amplified by PCR, respectirely. Two genes were fused and formed the recombinant plamid pHCV CN (Core+NS3) and pHCV NC (NS3+Core). The fused plasmid were expressed in E.coli 06. The pHC CN plasmid expressed fussion protein was shown by a major band with a expected molecular weight about 68 kD on SDS PAGE. However, the pHCV NC plasmid expressed fussion protein was 66 kD in molecular weight. The results indicate that the pHCV NC fussion protein differs from the pHCV CN fussion protein in mulecular weight. It suggests that the fusion way is important for the structure of recombinant proteins.