Evolution and Diversity of the Human Hepatitis D Virus Genome
Figure 1
HDV genome and replication. (a) Structural features of the HDV genome. The viral genome is a single-stranded circular RNA molecule composing of the viroid-like and the HDAg-coding domains. The ribozyme sequence (Rz) in the viroid-like domain is shown as a blue box. “A/G” in the HDAg-coding sequence indicates the nucleotide edited by the host ADAR leading to the synthesis of LDAg. The beginning and the end of the circular genome are labeled as 1/1683. (b) Replication of the HDV genome by the double rolling-circle replication model. The genome and antigenome of HDV are represented by blue or red circles and labeled as “G” or “G”, respectively. The open blue or red lines represent the primary transcription products composed of multimeric units of the viral genome or antigenome, respectively. The location of Rz is denoted by the green or blue boxes in the genome and antigenome, respectively. Arrowheads indicate the self-cleavage site of the ribozyme.
