Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein Is Not Required for Covalently Closed Circular DNA Transcriptional Regulation
Youquan Zhong, Chuanjian Wu, Zaichao Xu, Yan Teng, Li Zhao, Kaitao Zhao, Jingjing Wang, Wen Wang, Qiong Zhan, Chengliang Zhu, Xinwen Chen, Kaiwei Liang, Xiaoming Cheng, Yuchen Xia
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) has emerged as a promising antiviral target. However, whether HBc can regulate HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) transcription remains elusive. This study illustrated that HBc has no effect on epigenetic regulation of cccDNA, and it does not participate in cccDNA transcription. Given that HBc is dispensable for cccDNA transcription, novel cccDNA-targeting therapeutics are needed for an HBV cure.
Topics & Concepts
BiologyCircular DNACore proteinVirologyHepatitis B virusDNAGeneticsVirusMolecular biologyGeneGenomeHepatitis B Virus StudiesHepatitis C virus researchLiver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment