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Cell cycle arrest mediated by hepatitis delta antigen
Author(s) -
Hwang Soon B,
Park Kyu-Jin
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)00394-4
Subject(s) - biology , cytolysis , flow cytometry , virology , spodoptera , antigen , recombinant dna , microbiology and biotechnology , virus , cell cycle , cell , immunology , in vitro , gene , genetics , cytotoxic t cell
Hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg) is the only viral‐encoded protein of the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). This protein has been extensively characterized with respect to its biochemical and functional properties. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for persistent HDV infection is not yet clear. Previously, we reported that overexpression of HDAg protects insect cells from baculovirus‐induced cytolysis [Hwang, S.B. Park, K.‐J. and Kim, Y.S. (1998) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 244, 652–658]. Here we report that HDAg mediates cell cycle arrest when overexpressed in recombinant baculovirus‐infected insect cells. Flow cytometry analysis has shown that HDAg expression in Spodoptera frugiperda cells causes an accumulation of substantial amounts of polyploid DNA in the absence of cell division. This phenomenon may be partly responsible for the persistent infection of chronic HDV patients.