Figure 7.

(A) The full-length genotype B wild-type construct (GTB-full-WT; the preS2/S promoter of this construct has an intact G-quadruplex motif) is associated with higher levels of secreted hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) as compared to full-length genotype B mutant construct (GTB-full-MUT; the preS2/S promoter is mutated to disrupt the G-quadruplex motif). (B) The GTB-full-WT construct was associated with higher levels of intracellular HBsAg as compared to the GTB-full-MUT construct. HBsAg levels were measured using an ELISA. (C) The hepatitis B ‘e’ antigen (HBeAg) levels measured using an ELISA in the supernatant of Huh7 cells transfected with the GTB-full-WT constructs and GTB-full-MUT constructs were comparable. (D) Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) levels measured using an ELISA in the cell lysates of Huh7 cells transfected with the GTB-full-WT constructs and GTB-full-MUT constructs were comparable. The intracellular HBsAg and HBcAg levels were normalized to the total protein content in the respective cell lysate. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 3 replicates)