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.