title: RNA binding domain of HDV antigen is homologous to the HMG box of SRY.
abstract: The delta antigen of hepatitis delta virus exhibits sequence specific binding to its own RNA and is essential for viral replication. Using statistical methods we have detected significant similarity between the RNA-binding domain of the hepatitis delta antigen and the HMG box of SRY. Our analysis suggests that the RNA-binding domain of HDV antigen evolved from the DNA-binding domain of the HMG box. SRY, or a related protein, is a probable cellular cognate of HDV.
authors.affiliation: San Diego Supercomputer Center, California, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veretnik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gribskov
mesh_terms: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018963:Hepatitis Antigens; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D051876:Sex-Determining Region Y Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors