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X-region-specific transcript in mammalian hepatitis B virus-infected liver
1Hepatitis Viruses Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Journal of Virology
|November 1, 1988
Summary
Researchers identified a novel 0.65 kb woodchuck hepatitis virus transcript in infected liver cells. This previously undetected viral RNA may play a role in X gene expression or novel protein translation.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- In vitro studies of hepatitis B virus (HBV) showed an X-region transcript (~0.7 kb).
- This transcript remained undetected in infected cells, posing a gap in understanding HBV gene expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize X-region-specific transcripts in vivo.
- To investigate the role of these transcripts in woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of liver cells from woodchucks with acute and chronic WHV infections.
- RNA isolation and characterization, focusing on X-region-specific transcripts.
- Assessment of polyadenylation status and subcellular localization.
Main Results:
- A heterogeneous X-region-specific transcript (~0.65 kb) was detected in WHV-infected liver cells.
- This transcript was predominantly found in the nucleus and was largely non-polyadenylated.
- It constituted less than 1% of total virus-specific RNA and was present in both acute and chronic infections.
Conclusions:
- The 0.65 kb WHV transcript is a significant viral RNA species present in infected hepatocytes.
- This transcript is likely involved in the expression of the X gene protein.
- It may also regulate translation from a newly identified open reading frame, ORF5, common to hepadnaviruses.