title: Role of the ribozyme of hepatitis delta virus on the transcription after polyadenylation.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that the ribozyme located 34 nucleotides downstream of the polyadenylation site on the antigenomic RNA of the hepatitis delta virus can stabilize the downstream transcript after polyadenylation. Here, we have reports on further investigations of the molecular mechanism of this stabilization effect and the potential role of the small and large delta antigens. We found that the downstream transcripts after polyadenylation were stabilized by the ribozyme independently of either the small or large delta antigen. The stabilization effect was abolished as the ribozyme activity was eliminated by mutations on either the enzyme domain or target site of the ribozyme. These findings suggested that it was the ribozyme activity rather than the RNA structure or the delta antigens that contributed to the stabilization effect.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liaw
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011061:Poly A