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Hepatitis B core antigen forms oligomers and complexes with the p gene product in hepatitis B virus core particles
Author(s) -
JENG KS.,
HU CP.,
CHANG C.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1993.tb01669.x
Subject(s) - hbcag , hepatitis b virus , virology , hepatitis b virus dna polymerase , gene product , antigen , hepatitis b , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , hepadnaviridae , virus , biology , biochemistry , gene expression , genetics , hbsag
The nucleocapsid core of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is composed of the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), a viral genome, a polymerase and a protein covalently linked to the 5'‐end of the minus DNA strand. The interactions among the constituents are still very limited. By using the in vitro phosphorylation method, it was found that the p gene product formed complexes with HBcAg in the core particles through non‐covalent linkage. After complete digestion of the HBV genome, the complexes between the HBcAg and p gene product remained intact. These results indicate that the HBcAg and p gene product are not complexed through the HBV genome. Also, it was found that the 21 kD HBcAg formed oligomers through disulfide linkages in the extracellular viral particles.