Putative reverse transcriptase intermediates of human hepatitis B virus in primary liver carcinomas.
Nucleocapsid-pol fusion proteins have been detected by serological screening hepatocellular carcinoma tissues that contain hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. The existence of these fusion proteins suggests that HBV may synthesize its reverse transcriptase in a fashion analogous to the way that retroviruses synthesize and process a precursor. The accumulation of HBV reverse transcriptase intermediates in tumorous tissues and not in other tissues may be related to the absence of viral core particles and possibly contributes to tumor development.
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H
Will
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J
Salfeld
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E
Pfaff
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Manso
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L
Theilmann
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H
Schaler
D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007106:Immune Sera; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase