FIG. 6.

Serine 118 is essential for transactivating function of the DHBV L protein. (A) CAT assays. HepG2 cells were cotransfected with expression plasmids for DHBV16 L proteins and a 3xAP 1-driven CAT reporter construct. CAT activity was measured in cell lysates prepared at 2 days posttransfection. Bars represent mean values with standard deviations from four transfections. Fold inductions were calculated relative to the value for the pre-S deletion mutant LΔ116. (B) Comparable expression of the different L proteins was confirmed by Western blotting of immunoprecipitated L proteins. LΔ116, 22 kDa; ∗, glycosylated LΔ116 protein (55).