A nuanced role of the small loop of hepatitis B virus small envelope protein in virion morphogenesis and secretion.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The virion secretion mechanism of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains to be investigated. In our current study, we characterized a reverse transcriptase mutant, which changed from the YMDD motif to YMHA. We noted that this mutant YMHA secreted no virions in the medium. Because of the overlapping open reading frame (ORF) between the polymerase and the envelope genes, the lack of virion secretion is likely due to corresponding concurrent mutations in a small loop of the envelope protein (HBsAg, HBV surface antigen). In literature, small loop mutations are thought to affect virion secretion of hepatitis delta virus (HDV), but not HBV.

Methods

Here, we revisited the relationship between the small loop and virion secretion by site-directed mutagenesis and native agar

SUBMITTER: Chang CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8638367 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature