Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Identifying Inhibitors of the HBx-DDB1 Interaction Using a Split Luciferase Assay System
Published on: December 21, 2019
HBV HBx protein masks epigenetic reader Spindlin1 via an inter-molecular zinc finger to subvert transcriptional
Alexis Clavier1, Toshinobu Shida1, Maxim A Droemer1
1Faculty for Chemistry and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), München, Germany.
Abstract:
The HBx protein from Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is essential for replication and promotes pathogenicity during chronic infection. HBx hijacks host proteins, reprogramming them to evade antiviral defence. However, the structural basis of recruitment remains largely unknown. The HBx1-120 isoform derives from integration of viral DNA into the host genome and is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma. We present an NMR-based setup to characterize HBx-host protein interactions at residue-level resolution. HBx1-120 is disordered in isolation but undergoes local folding upon binding apoptosis regulator Bcl-xL and epigenetic reader Spindlin1. The HBx-Spindlin1 complex is bivalent: a hydrophobic interaction combines with a sticky patch realized via a rare inter-molecular zinc finger. HBx thus conceals the region responsible for recruiting Spindlin1 to histone tails, promoting transcription of extrachromosomal viral DNA. This mechanism exemplifies the capacity of HBx to engage diverse host factors into dynamic complexes.
More Related Videos
13:47Lentiviral Vector Platform for the Efficient Delivery of Epigenome-editing Tools into Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Disease Models
Published on: March 29, 2019
10:28Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers
Published on: September 20, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...
Eukaryotic Transcription Inhibitors
Eukaryotic transcription inhibitors usually contain two distinct domains, a DNA...
Position-effect Variegation
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Co-activators and Co-repressors
General Transcription Factors