Figure 3.

HBV replicative cycle. HBV undergoes endocytosis through the NTCP. Inside the cell, the rcDNA enters the nucleus, where it is repaired to form the cccDNA. The latter forms a viral minichromosome for the transcription of viral RNAs. The pgRNA binds to HBVPol in the cytosol to induce the packaging process that is followed by the synthesis of the HBV-DNA. The new viral particle is assembled in the ER and translocated to be secreted outside the hepatocytes as virions. Abbreviations: HBV, hepatitis B virus; NTCP, sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide; rcDNA, relaxed circular DNA; cccDNA, covalently closed circular DNA; pgRNA, pregenomic RNA; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; HBVPol, HBV polymerase; dslDNA, double-stranded linear DNA.