Pecanex Like Protein 4 (PCNXL4)

C14orf135 Belongs to the pecanex family. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) F protein is a newly discovered HCV gene product that is expressed by translational ribosomal frameshift. Little is known about the biological properties of this protein. the F protein is a labile protein with a half-life of <10 min in Huh7 hepatoma cells and in vitro. The half-life of the F protein could be substantially increased by proteasome inhibitors, suggesting that the rapid degradation of the F protein is mediated by the proteasome pathway. Further immunofluorescence staining and subcellular fractionation experiments indicate that the F protein is primarily associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. This subcellular localization is similar to those of HCV core and NS5A proteins, raising the possibility that the F protein may participate in HCV morphogenesis or replication.