Alternative splicing of hepatitis B virus RNAs in HepG2 cells transfected with the viral DNA

Virology. 1990 Dec;179(2):881-5. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(90)90160-s.

Abstract

We identified a novel spliced RNA of 2.6 kb from a human hepatoma cell line HepG2 transfected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome. The splicing acceptor site of the novel 2.6-kb RNA (position 489) was shown to be common to that of the previously described 2.1-kb spliced RNA which codes for an altered core antigen lacking the carboxy-terminal amino acid, cysteine. However, the donor site of the 2.6-kb RNA is different from any of the spliced RNA reported and located at 538 nucleotides (nt) downstream of the donor site of the 2.1-kb RNA. Introduction of single-base change mutations in the consensus sequence of the donor site of the 2.1-kb RNA maintained the splicing by using the cryptic donor site. The amount of the 2.6-kb spliced RNA was unchanged by these mutations. These results suggest independent regulations for the synthesis of the 2.1- and 2.6-kb spliced RNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • RNA Splicing*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Viral
  • DNA