Restrictive influence of SAMHD1 on Hepatitis B Virus life cycle.

Deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) are essential for efficient hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Here, we investigated the influence of the restriction factor SAMHD1, a dNTP hydrolase (dNTPase) and RNase, on HBV replication. We demonstrated that silencing of SAMHD1 in hepatic cells increased HBV replication, while overexpression had the opposite effect.

Characterization of α-taxilin as a novel factor controlling the release of hepatitis C virus.

Although it is well established that the release of HCV (hepatitis C virus) occurs through the secretory pathway, many aspects concerning the control of this process are not yet fully understood. α-Taxilin was identified as a novel binding partner of syntaxin-4 and of other members of the syntaxin family, which are part of SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein-attachment protein receptor) complexes and so are involved in intracellular vesicle traffic. Since α-taxilin prevents t-SNARE (target SNARE) formation by binding exclusively to free syntaxin-4, it exerts an inhibitory effect on the vesicular transport.

Identification of α-taxilin as an essential factor for the life cycle of hepatitis B virus.

Background & Aims: α-taxilin was identified as binding partner of syntaxins and is supposed to regulate vesicular trafficking. However, the physiological functions of α-taxilin and its potential relevance for the life cycle of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are still poorly understood.

Methods: Transfected hepatoma cells, infected primary human hepatocytes, and liver tissue of HBV-infected patients were used to study the expression of α-taxilin.