N6-methyladenosine modification of the 5' epsilon structure of the HBV pregenome RNA regulates its encapsidation by the viral core protein.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) contains a partially double-stranded DNA genome. During infection, its replication is mediated by reverse transcription (RT) of an RNA intermediate termed pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) within core particles in the cytoplasm. An epsilon structural element located in the 5' end of the pgRNA primes the RT activity. We have previously identified the N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A)-modified DRACH motif at 1905 to 1909 nucleotides in the epsilon structure that affects myriad functions of the viral life cycle. In this study, we investigated the functional role of m⁶A modification of the 5' ε (epsilon) structural element of the HBV pgRNA in the nucleocapsid assembly. Using the m⁶A site mutant in the HBV 5' epsilon, we present evidence that m⁶A

SUBMITTER: Kim GW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8851549 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature