Elucidating the role of missense SNP of Protein Kinase C epsilon in HCV induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health concern for the past few decades because of its chemo resistance aggressive nature and misdiagnosis. Identification of pathogenic SNP in PKCε can be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and treatment of HCC. In this study we identify potential pathogenic SNPs of PKCε and isolated a high-risk variant for HCV-induced HCC. Wet lab validation through tetra ARMS PCR of that SNP carried out afterwards. The association of viral pathogenicity was also checked with the identified potentially pathogenic variant of PKCε. The in silico structural and functional analysis of the selected SNP was also carried out using different online tools and molecular dynamic simulations. Lastly, the analysis of molecular interaction of PKCε with a potential inhibitor, Betulin, was performed to estimate its therapeutic potential