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The NS3 protein of hepatitis C virus contains a bipartite structure consisting of an N-terminal serine protease and a C-terminal DEAD box helicase. We show that the C-terminal domain has ATPase and panhelicase activities. The integrity of the helicase function is dependent on the conserved DEAD motif and can be abolished by a His-Ala point mutation, leaving a fully functional nucleoside triphosphatase.
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