title: Assembly and Release of Hepatitis B Virus.
abstract: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein is a dynamic and versatile protein that directs many viral processes. During capsid assembly, core protein allosteric changes ensure efficient formation of a stable capsid that assembles while packaging viral RNA-polymerase complex. Reverse transcription of the RNA genome as well as transport of the capsid to multiple cellular compartments are directed by dynamic phosphorylation and structural changes of core protein. Subsequently, interactions of the capsid with the surface proteins and/or host proteins trigger envelopment and release of the viral capsids or the transport to the nucleus. Held together by many weak protein-protein interactions, the viral capsid is an extraordinary metastable machine that is stable enough to persist in the cellular and extracellular environment but dissociates to allow release of the viral genome at the right time during infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zlotnick
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D048348:Reverse Transcription; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology*; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral