FIG. 2.

Protection of nucleocapsid-associated A3G from protease digestion. HepG2 cells were transfected with plasmids expressing HBV and A3G. Three days later, NP-40 cell lysates were prepared and treated with the indicated concentration of proteinase K. Lysates were then resolved on a native agarose gel and transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane. Western blot analysis was used to detect A3G (upper panel) followed by detection of assembled capsids (bottom panel) on the same membrane using the anti-A3G and anti-HBV core antibodies, respectively.