Virus replication and virion export in X-deficient hepatitis B virus transgenic mice.
The function of the X protein (pX) in the replication cycle of mammalian hepadnaviruses is enigmatic. Using tissue culture experiments it has been shown that the X gene product is not central to hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and virion export. However, at present it is still unclear whether this also applies to the in vivo situation. Using a terminally redundant X-deficient HBV DNA construct, transgenic mice were established that exhibited high-level expression of the viral core protein in liver and kidneys. Importantly, replicative DNA intermediates and mature viral genomes could be detected in the liver and serum of these mice, respectively. These findings indicate that, in the in vivo model of transgenic mice, the HBV X (HBx) gene product is not required for HBV replication and virion secretion.
Reifenberg
Kurt
K
Central Laboratory Animal Facility of the Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Obere Zahlbacherstr. 67 - Hochhaus am Augustusplatz, D-55101 Mainz, Germany1.
Nusser
Petra
P
Laboratory Animal Research Unit of the University of Ulm, Albert Einstein Allee 11, D-89081 Ulm, Germany2.
Löhler
Jürgen
J
Heinrich Pette Institute for Experimental Virology and Immunology, Martinistr. 52, D-20251 Hamburg, Germany3.
Spindler
Gabriele
G
Laboratory Animal Research Unit of the University of Ulm, Albert Einstein Allee 11, D-89081 Ulm, Germany2.
Kuhn
Christa
C
Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany4.
von Weizsäcker
Fritz
F
Department of Medicine II, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany5.
Köck
Josef
J
Department of Medicine II, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany5.
D000818:Animals; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology*; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein