TY - JOUR T1 - Hepatitis B virus polymerase restricts LINE-1 retrotransposition JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2021.05.07.443105 SP - 2021.05.07.443105 AU - Yasuo Ariumi Y1 - 2021/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/05/07/2021.05.07.443105.abstract N2 - Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1, L1) retrotransposon composes about 17% of the human genome. However, genetic and biochemical interactions between L1 and hepatitis B virus (HBV) remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that HBV restricts L1 mobility without inhibiting the L1 promoter activity. Notably, HBV polymerase (Pol) strongly inhibited L1 retrotransposition in a reverse transcriptase (RT)-independent manner. Indeed, the ribonuclease H (RNase H) domain was essential for inhibition of L1 retrotransposition. L1 ORF1p RNA-binding protein predominantly localized into cytoplasmic RNA granule termed P-body. However, HBV Pol sequestered L1 ORF1p from P-body and colocalized with L1 ORF1p in cytoplasm, when both proteins were co-expressed. Altogether, HBV Pol seems to restrict L1 mobility through a sequestration of L1 ORF1p from P-body. Thus, these results suggest a novel function or activity of HBV Pol in regulation of L1 retrotransposition.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. ER -