PRMT5: a Novel Regulator of Hepatitis B Virus Replication and an Arginine Methylase of HBV Core

In the study, we identified protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) as a novel restriction factor of HBV replication. We have also demonstrated that PRMT5 can interact with the HBV core and methylate its arginine residues within arginine-rich domain. We identified two types of HBc post-translational modifications: arginine methylation and ubiquitination. While monomethylated HBc retains cytoplasmic localization, symmetric dimethylation is linked to serine phosphorylation and nuclear transport. Thus arginine methylation and ubiquitination are novel types of HBc post-translational modifications which add another level of complexity to the understanding of HBc function and regulation of HBV replication