Smc5/6 Antagonism by HBx Is an Evolutionarily Conserved Function of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Mammals.

ABSTRACT: Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of liver disease and cancer in humans. HBVs (family Hepadnaviridae) have been associated with mammals for millions of years. Recently, the Smc5/6 complex, known for its essential housekeeping functions in genome maintenance, was identified as an antiviral restriction factor of human HBV. The virus has, however, evolved to counteract this defense mechanism by degrading the complex via its regulatory HBx protein. Whether the antiviral activity of the Smc5/6 complex against hepadnaviruses is an important and evolutionarily conserved function is unknown. In this study, we used an evolutionary and functional approach to address this question. We first performed phylogenetic and positive selection analyses of the Smc5/6 complex subu

SUBMITTER: Abdul F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6069175 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature