APOBEC3C S188I Polymorphism Enhances Context-Specific Editing of Hepatitis B Virus Genome

In this study, we demonstrated in culture and in patients that HBV could be edited by APOBEC3C(S188I). This enzyme led to an enhanced editing activity in a more specific 5MODIFIER LETTER PRIMETpCpA -> 5MODIFIER LETTER PRIMETpTpA context. This constitutes a new hallmark of APOBEC3C(S188I). Single-nucleotide polymorphism in APOBEC3C (resulting in a serine to isoleucine in position 188) is present in approximately 10% of African populations and greatly enhances restriction against human immunodeficiency virus-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus by improving dimerization and DNA processivity of the enzyme. In this study, we demonstrated in culture and in infected patients that hepatitis B virus (HBV) could be edited by APOBEC3C(S188I). Using next-generation sequencing, we demonstrated that APOBEC3C(S188I) led to enhanced editing activity in 5MODIFIER LETTER PRIMETpCpA -> 5MODIFIER LETTER PRIMETpTpA context. This constitutes a new hallmark of this enzyme, which could be used to determine its impact on HBV or nuclear DNA.