Metabolic labeling of woodchuck hepatitis B virus X protein in naturally infected hepatocytes reveals a bimodal half-life and association with the nuclear framework.
In order to identify potential sites of hepadnavirus X protein action, we have investigated the subcellular distribution and the stability of woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) X protein (WHx) in primary hepatocytes isolated from woodchucks with persistent WHV infection. In vivo cell labeling and cell fractionation studies showed that the majority of WHx is a soluble cytoplasmic protein while a minor part of newly synthesized WHx is associated with a nuclear framework fraction (20%) and with cytoskeletal components (5 to 10%). Pulse-chase experiments revealed that cytoplasmic WHx has a short half-life and decays with bimodal kinetics (approximately 20 min and 3 h). The rates of association and turnover of nucleus-associated WHx suggest that compartmentalization may be responsible for the bimodal turnover observed in the cytoplasm.
Dandri
M
M
Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Department of Medicine, Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Petersen
J
J
Stockert
R J
RJ
Harris
T M
TM
Rogler
C E
CE
D000818:Animals; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D006207:Half-Life; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017919:Hepatitis B Virus, Woodchuck / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D008392:Marmota; D012995:Solubility; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins; C090237:protein X, Woodchuck hepatitis B virus