Encapsidated hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase is poised on an ordered RNA lattice.

ABSTRACT: Assembly of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) virion begins with the formation of an RNA-filled core composed of a symmetrical capsid (built of core protein), viral pregenomic RNA, and viral reverse transcriptase. To generate the circular dsDNA genome of HBV, reverse transcription requires multiple template switches within the confines of the capsid. To date, most anti-HBV therapeutics target this reverse transcription process. The detailed molecular mechanisms of this crucial process are poorly understood because of the lack of structural information. We hypothesized that capsid, RNA, and viral reverse transcriptase would need a precise geometric organization to accomplish reverse transcription. Here we present the asymmetric structure of authentic RNA-filled cores, determined to 14.5-Å resolutio

SUBMITTER: Wang JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4128116 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature