Enhancement of hepatitis B virus replication by its X protein in transgenic mice.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X gene encodes a multifunctional protein that can regulate cellular signaling pathways, interact with cellular transcription factors, and induce hepatocellular oncogenesis. In spite of its diverse activities, the precise role of the X protein in the viral life cycle of HBV remains unclear. To investigate this question, we have produced transgenic mice that carry either the wild-type HBV genome or a mutated HBV genome incapable of expressing the 16.5-kDa X protein. Our results indicate that while the X protein is not absolutely essential for HBV replication or its maturation in transgenic mice, it can enhance viral replication, apparently by activating viral gene expression. These results demonstrate a transactivation role of the X protein in HBV replication in transgenic mice.
Xu
Zhenming
Z
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2011 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Yen
T S Benedict
TS
Wu
Lanying
L
Madden
Charles R
CR
Tan
Wenjie
W
Slagle
Betty L
BL
Ou
Jing-hsiung
JH
D000818:Animals; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D014779:Virus Replication
D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein