Hepatitis C viral IRES inhibition by phenazine and phenazine-like molecules.

Abstract An in vitro assay based on the expression of Fluci reporter gene under the translational control of HCV IRES was used to evaluate and screen compound libraries. A structure–activity relationship study on a phenazine hit was conducted. Our data suggest that an intact phenazine or phenazine-like core with two distal polar substitutions is crucial for potency.