New Non-nucleoside Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

Recombinant RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of hepatitis C virus was purified using a bacterial expression system (Escherichia coli). The system for enzyme activity detection was optimized. The maximum activity was achieved when the reaction was carried out at 30°C in the presence of 3 mM Mg2+ or 0.75 mM Mn2+. Among α- and β-pyrogallaldehydes, effective inhibitors were found. It was shown that they acted at the primer elongation stage, and their binding to the protein is reversible.