Effect of a hepatitis B virus inhibitor, NZ-4, on capsid formation.
Antiviral Res
; 125: 25-33, 2016 Jan.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26611395
ABSTRACT
During the hepatitis B virus (HBV) life cycle, nucleocapsid assembly is essential for HBV replication. Both RNA reverse transcription and DNA replication occur within the HBV nucleocapsid. HBV nucleocapsid is consisted of core protein (HBcAg), whose carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) contains an Arg-rich domain (ARD). The ARD of HBcAg does contribute to the encapsidation of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA). Previously, we reported a small-molecule, NZ-4, which dramatically reduced the HBV DNA level in an in vitro cell setting. Here, we explore the possible mechanisms by which NZ-4 inhibits HBV function. As an HBV inhibitor, NZ-4 leads to the formation of genome-free capsids, including a new population of capsid that runs faster on agarose gels. NZ-4's activity was dependent on the presence of the ARD I, containing at least one positively charged amino acid. NZ-4 might provide a new option for further development of HBV therapeutics for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thiazoles
/
Hepatitis B virus
/
Capsid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Antiviral Res
Year:
2016
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: