Organization and expression of hepatitis B sequences cloned from hepatocellular carcinoma tissue DNA

International audienceWe have constructed a phage lambda library of liver DNA fragments from West African patient who died of liver failure due to advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Four hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-carrying recombinants have been isolated, one clone (lambda IA22) being analyzed in greatest detail. It contains approximately 3.8 kb of HBV DNA without detectable deletions or rearrangements. One site of integration lies close to the nick in free viral DNA. The restriction map of the HBV sequences is close to those published for the ay subtype. Coconvection of mouse Ltk- cells with lambda IA22 and cloned thymidine kinase gene results in the expression of gene S and the excretion of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) particles into the culture supernatant