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Volume 24 Issue 6
December 2009
    Citation: Hui FENG, Kang-hong HU. Structural Characteristics and Molecular Mechanism of Hepatitis B Virus Reverse Transcriptase .VIROLOGICA SINICA, 2009, 24(6) : 509-517.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12250-009-3076-6
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    Structural Characteristics and Molecular Mechanism of Hepatitis B Virus Reverse Transcriptase

    cstr: 32224.14.s12250-009-3076-6

    • State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China

    • Corresponding author: Kang-hong HU, hukgh@wh.iov.cn
    • Received Date: 19 May 2009
      Accepted Date: 24 June 2009
      Available online: 01 December 2009

      Fund Project: National Nature Science Foundations of China 30870131Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences 0802021SA1

    • Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a typical member of the Hepadnaviridae family, is responsible for infections that cause B-type hepatitis which leads to severe public health problems around the world. The small enveloped DNA-containing virus replicates via reverse transcription, and this unique process is accomplished by the virally encoded reverse transcriptase (RT). This multi-functional protein plays a vital role in the viral life cycle. Here, we provide a summary of current knowledge regarding the structural characteristics and molecular mechanisms of HBV RT. Improved understanding of these processes is of both theoretical and practical significance for fundamental studies of HBV and drug discovery.
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      Structural Characteristics and Molecular Mechanism of Hepatitis B Virus Reverse Transcriptase

        Corresponding author: Kang-hong HU, hukgh@wh.iov.cn
      • State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
      • Received Date: 19 May 2009
      • Accepted Date: 24 June 2009
      Fund Project:  National Nature Science Foundations of China 30870131Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences 0802021SA1

      Abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a typical member of the Hepadnaviridae family, is responsible for infections that cause B-type hepatitis which leads to severe public health problems around the world. The small enveloped DNA-containing virus replicates via reverse transcription, and this unique process is accomplished by the virally encoded reverse transcriptase (RT). This multi-functional protein plays a vital role in the viral life cycle. Here, we provide a summary of current knowledge regarding the structural characteristics and molecular mechanisms of HBV RT. Improved understanding of these processes is of both theoretical and practical significance for fundamental studies of HBV and drug discovery.

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