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Title: Enhancement of gene transactivation activity of androgen receptor by hepatitis B virus X protein

Journal Article · · Virology
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2011 Zonal Avenue, HMR-401, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (United States)
  2. George Whipple Lab for Cancer Research, Department of Pathology, Urology, Radiation Oncology and the Cancer Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (United States)

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is a regulatory protein that is required for efficient replication of HBV in its natural host. In this report, we demonstrate by co-immunoprecipitation experiments that HBx can physically bind to the androgen receptor (AR), which is a nuclear hormone receptor that is expressed in many different tissues including the liver. This observation is further supported by confocal microscopy, which reveals that HBx can alter the subcellular localization of the AR both in the presence and in the absence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Further studies indicate that HBx can enhance the gene transactivation activity of AR by enhancing its DNA binding activity in a DHT-dependent manner. However, HBx does not remain associated with AR on the DNA. As AR can regulate the expression of a number of cellular genes, our results raise the possibility that HBV pathogenesis may be mediated in part via the interaction between HBx and AR.

OSTI ID:
20977041
Journal Information:
Virology, Vol. 363, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.01.040; PII: S0042-6822(07)00085-2; Copyright (c) 2007 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0042-6822
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English