ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the function of hepatitis B virus polymerase (HBV Pol) in the viral life cycle by screening the proteins interacting with HBV polymerase.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HBV Pol gene was constructed into the pGBKT7 vector. GAL4 yeast two-hybrid system was used to screen the human liver cDNA library to obtain proteins which interacted with HBV Pol. GST-pull down assay was applied to confirm the protein interactions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ubiquitously expressed transcript (UXT) was selected by the yeast two-hybrid system. GST-pull down assay confirmed the in vitro interaction between HBV Pol and UXT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>UXT is a potential interactor of HBV Pol, and this protein interaction may provide clues of the function of HBV Pol in HBV life cycle.</p>