The Zika Virus NS2B-NS3 (S2) protein is a highly purified recombinant protein designed for advanced virology research. This protein plays a critical role in viral replication, serving as a target for drug discovery and therapeutic interventions. It functions as a serine protease, facilitating the cleavage of viral polyproteins essential for replication and maturation. Expressed in Drosophila S2 cells using the ExpreS2™ system and purified via column chromatography, the NS2B-NS3 protease complex is a reliable resource for understanding Zika virus pathogenesis.
Key Advantages
High Purity: Greater than 95% as confirmed by SDS-PAGE and HPLC.
Functional Integrity: Verified protease activity for reliable experimental outcomes with consistent performance in inhibitor screening assays.
Ease of Use: Supplied in a ready-to-use liquid format in PBS.
Flexible Applications: Suitable for structural studies, enzymatic assays, and drug discovery research.
Reproducibility: Produced under stringent quality control to ensure batch-to-batch consistency.
Endotoxin-Free: Guaranteed for sensitive applications.
Purification: Multi-step column chromatography ensuring high purity and activity.
Molecular Weight: 26.8 kDa (theoretical).
Format: Liquid in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).
Storage: Store at -80°C for long-term stability; aliquot to avoid freeze-thaw cycles.
Application
Protease Activity Studies: The Zika virus NS2B-NS3 protease has been widely studied for its enzymatic mechanisms. For instance, NS2B-NS3 protease activity has been analyzed using fluorogenic and chromogenic substrates to better understand its catalytic properties and interactions (Xing et al.).
Inhibitor Screening: High-throughput methods have identified promising small molecules and peptides that inhibit NS2B-NS3 activity. Notable studies highlight potential antiviral candidates and computational screening methods to design effective inhibitors (Hossain et al.; Nascimento et al.).
Structural Biology: Structural studies, including crystallography and NMR, have resolved the protease's configuration and provided insights into the molecular basis of inhibitor binding, critical for drug design (Zhang et al.; Penna et al.).
Viral Pathogenesis Research: NS2B-NS3 plays a vital role in Zika virus replication and interaction with host cellular machinery. Research has elucidated its dual functionality, offering insights into viral replication and pathogenesis (Shiryaev et al.).
High-Throughput Screening: Assay platforms leveraging the NS2B-NS3 protease have been developed to facilitate drug discovery efforts. Such platforms have proven effective for rapid evaluation of antiviral compounds (Li et al.).