Role of N glycosylation of hepatitis B virus envelope proteins in morphogenesis and infectivity of hepatitis delta virus.
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) particles are coated with the large (L), middle (M), and small (S) hepatitis B virus envelope proteins. In the present study, we constructed glycosylation-defective envelope protein mutants and evaluated their capacity to assist in the maturation of infectious HDV in vitro. We observed that the removal of N-linked carbohydrates on the S, M, and L proteins was tolerated for the assembly of subviral hepatitis B virus (HBV) particles but was partially inhibitory for the formation of HDV virions. However, when assayed on primary cultures of human hepatocytes, virions coated with S, M, and L proteins lacking N-linked glycans were infectious. Furthermore, in the absence of M, HDV particles coated with nonglycosylated S and L proteins retained infectivity. These results indicate that carbohydrates on the HBV envelope proteins are not essential for the in vitro infectivity of HDV.
Sureau
Camille
C
Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, INSERM U76, INTS, Paris, France. csureau@ints.fr
Fournier-Wirth
Chantal
C
Maurel
Patrick
P
D006031:Glycosylation; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism; D019065:Virus Assembly
D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins