FIG. 1.

Nucleotide alignment of the six HBV genotype E sequences of the core upstream regulatory region to the basic core promoter region, with references to other genotypes and subtypes. The sequence enlarged under the alignment shows the UK2-specific 50-nucleotide sequences which were analyzed by BLAST homology search. The 1st to 21st nucleotides and 29th to 50th nucleotides matched the conserved sequences of HBV genotype E, nt 2713 to 2733 and nt 2710 to 2730, shown in shaded rectangles. Furthermore, the consequences of mutations which occurred in the UK2 sequence are shown. The normal CURS/BCP sequences are deleted, the S1 promoter, including the HNF1 site, is externally inserted, and internal duplication occurs.