Identification of a region within the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat that is essential for transactivation by the hepatitis B virus gene X.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X-gene product activates transcription of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene under control of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR). To identify a cis-acting regulatory sequence within the HIV-1 LTR which is responsive to the HBV X-gene trans-activating function, we examined the effects of HBV X-gene expression in cells with a series of LTR/CAT deletion mutants. A region of the HIV-1 LTR containing the previously identified kappa B-like enhancer element was found to be responsive to HBV X-gene activation, and this effect was independent of, and additive with, the effect of the HIV-1 tat-III protein on CAT expression. Since kappa B-like enhancer sequences are known to regulate transcription of a variety of viruses and cellular genes, our results suggest that the X gene could activate such a gene during HBV infection and replication.