Serine phosphoacceptor sites within the core protein of hepatitis B virus contribute to genome replication pleiotropically.

ABSTRACT: The core protein of hepatitis B virus can be phosphorylated at serines 155, 162, and 170. The contribution of these serine residues to DNA synthesis was investigated. Core protein mutants were generated in which each serine was replaced with either alanine or aspartate. Aspartates can mimic constitutively phosphorylated serines while alanines can mimic constitutively dephosphorylated serines. The ability of these mutants to carry out each step of DNA synthesis was determined. Alanine substitutions decreased the efficiency of minus-strand DNA elongation, primer translocation, circularization, and plus-strand DNA elongation. Aspartate substitutions also reduced the efficiency of these steps, but the magnitude of the reduction was less. Our findings suggest that phosphorylated serines are req

SUBMITTER: Lewellyn EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3039676 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature