title: Hepatocyte-specific binding of L/S-HBV particles expressed in insect cells.
abstract: The genome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) codes for three surface antigen proteins. Two of them are essential components of infectious viral particles. Whereas expression of the small (S) antigen led to formation of virus-like particles in different systems so far, secretion of neither the large antigen nor budding of virus-like particles containing both antigens could be observed. Using modified large antigen genes in dual expression vectors we were able to demonstrate secretion of virus-like particles in the baculovirus insect cell system. N-terminal fusion of an insect protein (melittin) derived signal sequence and destruction of the myristylation site resulted in secretion of the large antigen. Particles consisting of about 95% small and 5% large antigen bind specifically to hepatocytes. These pseudovirions could serve as a HBV vaccine and as a useful component of future hepatocyte-specific gene transfer vehicles.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and Humboldt Universität, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sandig
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kirillova
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schlag
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strauss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D014764:Viral Proteins