title: Isolation and characterization of liver-derived hepatitis B e antigen.
abstract: Two subpopulations of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were isolated from a human liver infected with hepatitis B virus. HBeAg extracted from liver homogenate subsequent to treatment with buffered 3 M NaSCN or 0.5 M MgCl2 banded at the density of 1.13 g/cm3 in CsCl and was polydispersed on gel filtration. In contrast, HBeAg released with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was detected mainly at a density of 1.20 g/cm3 in a CsCl gradient and consisted of low molecular weight species on gel chromatography. Polypeptides of 40,000 and 45,000 daltons were found in NaSCN and PBS-released HBeAg preparations, respectively. The results are interpreted as suggestive that liver HBeAg is a dimer of the major core particle polypeptide in different physicochemical forms.
mesh_terms: D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D010455:Peptides; D014764:Viral Proteins