Methods for identifying iminosugar derivatives that inhibit HCV p7 ion channel activity

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for screening that may be used to identify an inhibitor of HCV p7 protein. The methods may include incorporating an HCV p7 protein into a membrane to create an HCV p7-containing membrane that has an increased permeability relative to a membrane that does not contain HCV p7 protein. The HCV p7 protein may be contacted with a test compound, and the permeability of this HCV p7-containing membrane then may be compared to an HCV p7-containing membrane in which the HCV p7 protein has not been contacted with the test compound. The inhibitor of HCV p7 protein may be identified by observing a decrease in the permeability of the HCV p7-containing membrane in which the HCV p7 protein has been contacted with the test compound.

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