Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator family members competitively regulate hepatitis b virus biosynthesis

Transcriptional coactivators represent critical components of the transcriptional pre-initiation complex and are required for efficient gene activation. Members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC1) family differentially regulate hepatitis b virus (HBV) biosynthesis. Whereas PGC1 alpha has been shown to be a potent activator of HBV biosynthesis, PGC1 beta only very poorly activates HBV RNA and DNA synthesis in human hepatoma (HepG2) and embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells. Furthermore, PGC1 beta inhibits PGC1 alpha-mediated HBV biosynthesis. These observations suggest that a potential competition between human hepatoma (HepG2) and embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells PGC1 alpha and PGC1 beta for common transcription factor target(s) may regulate HBV transcription and replication in a context and signal transduction pathway dependent manner.