title: Replication-defective missense mutations within the terminal protein and spacer/intron regions of the polymerase gene of human hepatitis B virus.
abstract: We have analyzed 11 independent mutations located at various domains of the polymerase gene (pol) of human hepatitis B virus. Surprisingly, one of the two missense mutants within the spacer/intron region appears to be lethal. This result further defines the N-terminal limit of the reverse transcriptase domain. Alternatively, it suggests the potential existence of a novel domain with an unknown function. Two missense mutations within the terminal protein (TP) domain appear to be replication-defective as well, suggesting a functionally essential role of the TP domain in DNA replication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6059.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Faruqi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roychoudhury
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015751:Genes, pol; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D009154:Mutation; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004279:DNA, Viral