Formation of Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA: Removal of Genome-Linked Protein

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02721-06
• Publication Date: 2007-04-05T00:24:31Z
• Authors: Weifan Gao; Jianming Hu
• Keywords: DNA clamp; In vitro recombination; DNA polymerase II

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) contains a small, partially double-stranded, relaxed circular (RC) DNA genome. RC needs to be converted covalently closed (CCC) DNA, which serves as the template for all viral RNA transcription. As first step toward understanding how CCC is formed, we analyzed and host factors that may involved in formation, using transient stable transfections of HBV related avian hepadnavirus, duck hepatitis (DHBV). Our results show formed hepatoma cells was derived predominantly from with precise junction sequence. In contrast DHBV, formation cultured accompanied by accumulation species attached reverse transcriptase (RT) protein removed (protein-free or PF-RC DNA). Furthermore, whereas envelope deficiency led increased it resulted mainly PF-RC, but not CCC, HBV, suggesting protein(s) negatively regulate precedes deproteination both DHBV. Interestingly, RT-linked contained, almost exclusively, mature plus-strand RT preferentially DNA.