The genetic organization of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA in the human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is often found integrated in the genome of infected human liver cells and is supposed to be related to the development of primary liver carcinoma (PLC). Four clones of HBV DNA-containing sequences derived from DNA of the human PLC-derived cell line PLC/PRF/5 are discussed. The viral sequences show no intricate rearrangements excepting for a duplication and an inversion in one case, and a deletion in another. In all cases integration of the viral DNA was seen to be in a region which is single-stranded in the unintegrated HBV DNA. Sequence homologies between human and viral DNA flanking the integration sites have been detected. That may have a functional role in integration. Nucleotide sequence analyses of regions encompassing the viral-human junctions reveal open reading frames which consist of viral and/or human information. The possible expression of chimeric or cellular proteins may play a role in tumour development, and offers directions for further investigations.
D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000382:microbiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D010957:Plasmids; D014162:Transfection
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes