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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Oct 18.
Published in final edited form as: Antiviral Res. 2018 Aug 24;158:185–198. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.08.014

Fig. 3. Deproteination of the viral DNA, and synthesis of viral cccDNA.

Fig. 3.

The viral polymerase protein within the capsid is covalently attached to the 5′ end of “minus” strand of DNA, and must be removed for the successful production of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which is the template for all viral transcripts in the normal infection (shown as the 3 interlocked circles). The host functions mediating this process are not definitively known, but TDP2 may be involved. Host polymerase kappa (polK), FEN1, and DNA ligase (LIG) 1 and 3 are needed to complete the formation of cccDNA. Topoisomerases and various DNA repair functions may be involved. Cellular functions mediating these steps are indicated in orange, research phase compounds that interfere with these steps are shown in pinkish red, with compounds that are clinical phase, or approved, in light blue. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)

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