Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025
Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle
Published on: February 1, 2017
A nucleosome switch primes Hepatitis B Virus infection
Nicholas A Prescott1,2, Andrés Mansisidor3,4, Yaron Bram5,4
1Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology; New York, NY 10065, USA.
Nucleosome occupancy on hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) drives viral X gene transcription. A molecule called CBL137 inhibits this process, offering a potential new therapy for chronic HBV infection.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem causing liver disease and cancer.
- HBV establishes a viral minichromosome (cccDNA) with host histones upon infection.
- Viral X gene expression is crucial for degrading host silencing factors, but its regulation by cccDNA chromatin is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cccDNA chromatinization and X gene transcription.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for chronic HBV infection.
Main Methods:
- Established a reconstituted viral minichromosome platform.
- Analyzed nucleosome occupancy on cccDNA.
- Assessed the effect of CBL137 on X gene transcription and HBV infection in hepatocytes.
Main Results:
- Nucleosome occupancy in cccDNA was found to drive X gene transcription.
- The chromatin destabilizing molecule CBL137 inhibited X gene transcription.
- CBL137 also inhibited HBV infection in hepatocytes.
Conclusions:
- HBV cccDNA chromatinization is essential for X gene transcription.
- CBL137 represents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating chronic HBV infection.
More Related Videos
09:38Identification of Nucleolar Factors During HIV-1 Replication Through Rev Immunoprecipitation and Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 26, 2019
11:34A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target
Published on: May 10, 2022
