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. 1991 May 1;88(9):3797–3801. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.9.3797

Functional analysis of a liver-specific enhancer of the hepatitis B virus.

M A Trujillo 1, J Letovsky 1, H F Maguire 1, M Lopez-Cabrera 1, A Siddiqui 1
PMCID: PMC51540  PMID: 1902571

Abstract

The liver-specific enhancer I of the human hepatitis B virus contains several regions of DNA-protein interaction. Located within this element are also the domains of a promoter controlling the synthesis of the X open reading frame. Functional domains of the enhancer I and the X gene promoter were identified using DNase I protection analysis, deletion mutagenesis, and cell transfections. A unique liver-specific interaction was identified within this element whose binding site includes a direct sequence repeat, 5'-AGTAAACAGTA-3'. The factor(s) binding to this sequence motif was purified by oligonucleotide-affinity chromatography. Binding of this factor appears to play a key role in determining the overall enhancer function. Additionally, the interaction of several purified factors is presented. Cotransfection of liver cells with expression vectors encoding transcriptional factors resulted in trans-activation of the promoter/enhancer function. Based on the results of genetic analysis a model outlining the functional domains of the enhancer/promoter region is presented.

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