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. 1995 Feb;69(2):1107–1114. doi: 10.1128/jvi.69.2.1107-1114.1995

Hepatitis B virus X protein interacts with a probable cellular DNA repair protein.

T H Lee 1, S J Elledge 1, J S Butel 1
PMCID: PMC188683  PMID: 7815490

Abstract

The mechanism of action of hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein in transcriptional transactivation and in tumorigenesis remains obscure. We have used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify a cellular protein that can interact with HBV X protein. This protein, designated X-associated protein 1 (XAP-1), is a human homolog of the UV-damaged DNA-binding protein (UV-DDB) recovered from a monkey cell cDNA library. UV-DDB is presumed to be involved in DNA repair. The interaction between X protein and XAP-1 protein was verified by immunoprecipitation of yeast cell lysates expressing both proteins and by in vitro mixing with X protein expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and XAP-1 protein either in HeLa cell extracts or synthesized by in vitro translation. We speculate that the interaction of X protein with a DNA repair protein may recruit cellular proteins to repair the partially double-stranded HBV genome or may modify cellular transcription processes. An effect on the cellular DNA repair system may explain a cofactor role for HBV in liver cancer development.

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Selected References

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