Translation of the F protein of hepatitis C virus is initiated at a non-AUG codon in a +1 reading frame relative to the polyprotein

Cultured cells expressing a luciferase reporter gene with an insertion encompassing the HCV IRES plus the beginning of the HCV-coding region

Mutagenesis of the HCV sequence (introduction of stop codons, substitution of AUG initiator codon, mutation of codon 26(+1) context) and treatment with edeine

Unmodified HCV sequence constructs

Luciferase expression in the +1 reading frame (mimicking F protein expression) and 0 reading frame (mimicking polyprotein expression)surrogate