CONSTRUCTION AND CRYSTALLIZATION OF EXPRESSION SYSTEM FOR RNA POLYMERASE PB1-PB2 PROTEIN DERIVED FROM INFLUENZA VIRUS

摘要

The present invention aims to express influenza virus RNA polymerase on a large scale, to crystallize the influenza virus RNA polymerase, and to provide a method for screening a substance capable of serving as an active ingredient in anti-influenza drugs. The present invention provides a complex comprising a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence at positions 678-757 of the RNA polymerase PB1 subunit in influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 H1N1 and a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence at positions 1-37 of RNA polymerase PB2 subunit in influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 H1N1. This complex can be crystallized in the presence of a precipitant such as potassium phosphate and PEG4000. Moreover, with the use of information on the crystal structure of this complex, it is possible to provide a method for screening a substance capable of serving as an active ingredient in anti-influenza drugs.