title: [An analysis of the features of HBx protein distributed in liver cells and its expression in E. coli].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the features of HBx protein distributed in liver cells and its expression in E. coli.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression vectors encoding the full length HBx and its mutants were constructed by the routine molecular cloning method. HBx protein expression was detected using Western blotting. The distribution feature of HBx protein in liver cells was examined using the fluorescence confocal microscopy. A series of purified HBx fusion proteins were obtained by glutathione-sepharose 4B affinity chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression vectors were successfully constructed for the full length HBx and its mutants. HBx was found distributed uniformly in the nuclei but granularly in the cytoplasm of the liver cells. Under optimal conditions, the mutant GST-HBx (72-120aa) was easily degraded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study may provide a basis for further study on the biological function of HBx at the protein level.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Ju-qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Li-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xiao-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Jie-zhi
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiu-jun
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Cui-fen
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qi-nong
authors.initials: QN
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein; D005982:Glutathione Transferase