<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen the
hepatocyte proteins that interact with
hepatitis B virus X
protein (HBx).</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>The recombinant
plasmid pSos-HBx was constructed by inserting Sos-HBx fragment into the bait vector, and after sequence verification the
plasmid was transformed into competent
yeast cells. The expression and
self-activation of Sos-HBx
protein was detected in the
yeast cells. The
hepatocyte proteins interacting with the bait
protein was screened with CytoTrap
yeast two-
hybrid technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The reconstructed
plasmid harboring HBx
gene expressed Sos-HBx
protein in the
yeast cells without
self-activation of the
protein. CytoTrap yeast two-hybrid system identified 6
hepatocyte proteins that interacted with HBx, including
fibronectin 1,
translationally controlled tumor protein, IQ motif and
WD repeats 1,
follistatin,
orosomucoid 1, and
disulfide isomerase family A member 3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Six HBx-binding
hepatocyte proteins have been identified using the CytoTrap yeast two-hybrid system, which provides clues for further investigation of the
role of HBx
protein in
hepatitis and
liver cancer.</p>