The stem-loop structure of the cis-encapsidation signal is highly conserved in naturally occurring hepatitis B virus variants.
The region encoding the stem-loop structure of the HBV cis-encapsidation signal was sequenced in 87 patients with various forms of hepatitis. Altogether, 20 nucleotide substitutions were found; 15/20 were predicted to increase the stability of the stem-loop structure. Substitutions likely to decrease the stability of the cis-encapsidation signal were not observed.
Laskus
T
T
Department of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Rakela
J
J
Persing
D H
DH
D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000382:microbiology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid