MECHANISMS GOVERNING HEPADNAVIRAL NUCLEOCAPSID ASSEMBLY

Reverse transcription of an RNA pregenome is the central step in the r eplication cycle of the hepatitis B viruses. This reaction takes place within the viral nucleocapsid composed of the core protein, product(s ) of the P (pol) gene and the RNA pregenome. As the enzymatic activiti es required reside in the P-protein it plays a major role in the hepad naviral life cycle. This article summarizes recent data on structure a nd function of the hepadnaviral P-protein and discusses its important role in the early steps of nucleocapsid assembly.