Analysis of processing and polyadenylation signals of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen gene by using simian virus 40-hepatitis B virus chimeric plasmids

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Mol. Cell. Biol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.3.12.2250· OSTI ID:5810297

Simonsen, C C; Levinson, A D

The authors examined the transcription of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) gene in COs cells transfected with simian virus 40-based recombinant plasmids. When positioned behind the simian virus 40 late promoter, three transcripts were identified which hybridized to the HBsAg gene: a 2,000-nucleotide transcript colinear with a gene, a 1,100-nucleotide transcript representing a spliced molecule in which a major portion of the sequences encoding HBsAg were deleted, and an 800-nucleotide transcript derived primarily from sequences 3' to the HBsAg gene. The splice acceptor site utilized by the 1,100-nucleotide transcript is located immediately upstream of an open reading frame of unknown function contained within the 3' nontranslated region of the HBsAg gene. The HBsAg-specific mRNA species terminate 12 to 19 base pairs 3' of the sequence UAUAAA, similar to the concensus hexanucleotide which is thought to promote polyadenylation (AAUAAA). They constructed a series of plasmids with progressive deletions from the region surrounding where these transcripts terminate. Analysis of mRNA produced by cells transfected with these plasmids indicated that the signal hexanucleotide is in itself unable to promote the efficient processing of mRNA in the absence of downstream hepatitis B virus sequences. Processing proceeds properly, however, from plasmids containing an additional 30 nucleotides 3' of this signal.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Molecular Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080
• OSTI ID: 5810297
• Journal Information: Mol. Cell. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Mol. Cell. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 3:12; ISSN MCEBD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ADENYLIC ACID
ANTIGENS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL CULTURES
CHROMOSOME LOSSES
DISEASES
DNA
DNA SEQUENCING
ETIOLOGY
GENES
GENETIC MAPPING
HYBRIDIZATION
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS
INFECTIVITY
LOSSES
MAPPING
MESSENGER-RNA
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PLASMIDS
RECOMBINANT DNA
RNA
RNA PROCESSING
SIMIAN VIRUS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSCRIPTION
VIRAL DISEASES
VIRUSES