Integrator enzyme hypothesis for replication of hepatitis-B virus.

A hypothetical model for the replication of hepatitis-B virus is presented. It is suggested that the D.N.A. polymerase associated with Dane particles facilitates integration of viral D.N.A. into the genome of the liver cell. The viral D.N.A. is then replicated with the host genome. The hypothesis accounts for certain curious experimental and clinical observations and makes several predictions which are amenable to laboratory investigation.