title: RNA editing and its control in hepatitis delta virus replication.
abstract: The hepatitis delta virus genome is a small circular RNA, similar to viroids. Although HDV contains a gene, the protein produced (HDAg) is encoded by less than half the genome and possesses no RNA polymerase activity. Because of this limited coding capacity, HDV relies heavily on host functions and on structural features of the viral RNA-very much like viroids. The virus' use of host RNA editing activity to produce two functionally distinct forms of HDAg is a particularly good example of this reliance. This review covers the mechanisms and control of RNA editing in the HDV replication cycle.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors: Renxiang
authors: R
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors: Sarah D
authors: SD
authors: Linnstaedt
authors: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors: John L
authors: JL
authors: Casey