SLF2 Interacts with the SMC5/6 Complex to Direct Hepatitis B Virus Episomal DNA to Promyelocytic Leukemia Bodies for Transcriptional Repression
Qiyan Yao, Xiaozhong Peng, Cong Li, Xuelei Li, Mingyi Chen, Zhongmin Zhou, Dingbin Tang, Jiabei He, Yumeng Wu, Yinyan Sun, Wenhui Li
Abstract
Chronic HBV infection remains a major public health problem worldwide. Current antiviral treatments rarely cure the infection, as they cannot clear the viral reservoir, cccDNA, in the nucleus. Therefore, permanently silencing HBV cccDNA transcription represents a promising approach for a cure of HBV infection. Our study provides new insights into the cellular mechanisms that restrict HBV infection, revealing the role of SLF2 in directing HBV cccDNA to PML bodies for transcriptional repression. These findings have important implications for the development of antiviral therapies against HBV.
Topics & Concepts
BiologycccDNAPsychological repressionVirologyHepatitis B virusAcute promyelocytic leukemiaTranscription (linguistics)VirusGeneticsGenePhilosophyRetinoic acidHBsAgGene expressionLinguisticsHepatitis B Virus StudiesRNA modifications and cancerCancer-related Molecular Pathways