Critical role of the 36-nucleotide insertion in hepatitis B virus genotype G in core protein expression, genome replication, and virion secretion.

ABSTRACT: Frequent coinfection of hepatitis B virus genotype G with genotype A suggests that genotype G may require genotype A for replication or transmission. In this regard, genotype G is unique in having a 12-amino-acid extension in the core protein due to a 36-nucleotide insertion near the core gene translation initiation codon. The insertion alters base pairing in the lower stem of the pregenome encapsidation signal, which harbors the core gene initiator, and thus has the potential to affect both core protein translation and pregenomic RNA encapsidation. Genotype G is also unusual for possessing two nonsense mutations in the precore region, which together with the core gene encode a secreted nonstructural protein called hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). We found that genotype G clones were indeed

SUBMITTER: Li K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1951435 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature