title: Identification and chemical synthesis of a host cell receptor binding site on hepatitis B virus.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has not yet been propagated in vitro, and knowledge concerning its reaction with receptors on target cells remained scant. We have located within the HBV envelope proteins a sequence mediating the attachment of HBV to human hepatoma HepG2 cells. A synthetic peptide analog (PLGFFPDHQLDPAFGANSNNPDWDFNP) is recognized by both cell receptors and anti-HBV antibodies and elicits antibodies reacting with native HBV. The synthetic peptide is a promising immunogen expected to elicit protective antibodies based on the concept of the attachment blockade pathway of virus neutralization. The approach described here, based on anti-peptide antisera and the binding of peptide analogs to cell receptors is generally applicable for the delineation of cell receptor binding sites on viruses with known gene sequences.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011946:Receptors, Antigen; C030500:hepatitis B surface antigen receptor