title: The molecular biology of hepatitis delta virus.
abstract: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) contains a circular, viroid-like RNA genome, the only animal viral RNA of its kind. It possesses a ribozyme activity, which can autocatalytically cleave and ligate itself. The ribozyme has a unique structural requirement different from other known ribozymes. HDV RNA undergoes RNA-dependent RNA replication via a double rolling circle mechanism, which is probably mediated by cellular RNA polymerase II, utilizing modified cellular transcription machineries. HDV RNA encodes a single protein, hepatitis delta antigen, which is a nuclear, RNA-binding phosphoprotein and required for viral RNA replication. During replication, HDV RNA undergoes a specific RNA editing event to extend its open reading frame and produce a longer, isoprenylated delta antigen, which suppresses RNA replication and initiates viral particle assembly. Ribozyme, cell-mediated RNA-dependent RNA replication, and RNA editing are some of the unique properties and unresolved issues of the molecular biology of HDV.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016679:Genome, Viral; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000209:etiology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008967:Molecular Biology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D018963:Hepatitis Antigens; D035923:Hepatitis delta Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral; C442244:hepatitis delta virus large antigen