Figure 2

Alignment of the pre-core clone sequences propagated in different compartments and schematic representation of the secondary structure of the HBV pre-genome encapsidation signal. A) Alignment of the pre-core clone sequences propagated in different compartments. The alignment was made on the basis of the wild-type sequence of the pre-genome encapsidation signal. The dashes (-) represent the nucleotides that are identical to the wild-type sequence. B) Schematic representation of the secondary structure of the HBV pre-genome encapsidation signal: base pairing of the lower stem. The main nucleotide substitutions that better stabilise the epsilon structure detected in the clones derived from liver tissue, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma are shown in parentheses.