Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2025

Detection of Low Copy Number Integrated Viral DNA Formed by In Vitro Hepatitis B Infection
Published on: November 7, 2018
Mitochondrial DNA is a target of HBV integration
Domenico Giosa1,2, Daniele Lombardo1,2, Cristina Musolino2,3
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Abstract:
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may integrate into the genome of infected cells and contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the role of HBV integration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development remains unclear. In this study, we apply a high-throughput HBV integration sequencing approach that allows sensitive identification of HBV integration sites and enumeration of integration clones. We identify 3339 HBV integration sites in paired tumour and non-tumour tissue samples from 7 patients with HCC. We detect 2107 clonally expanded integrations (1817 in tumour and 290 in non-tumour tissues), and a significant enrichment of clonal HBV integrations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) preferentially occurring in the oxidative phosphorylation genes (OXPHOS) and D-loop region. We also find that HBV RNA sequences are imported into the mitochondria of hepatoma cells with the involvement of polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPASE), and that HBV RNA might have a role in the process of HBV integration into mtDNA. Our results suggest a potential mechanism by which HBV integration may contribute to HCC development.
More Related Videos
09:31Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites
Published on: March 22, 2016
09:53Author Spotlight: Advancing Techniques and Discoveries in Protein Synthesis and Assembly Through Innovative Mitochondrial Research
Published on: June 7, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes
Mitochondrial Membranes
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
DNA-only Transposons
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
Non-LTR Retrotransposons