Biophysical and biochemical characterization of hepatitis B antigen.

Hepatitis B surface antigens specified by the genome of the hepatitis B virus are shared by various particulate forms which circulate in the sera of chronic HBs Ag carriers. As purified from sera, HBs Ag consists of at least seven polypeptides, two of which appear to be glycoproteins. Most or all of these polypeptides contain both group-specific (a) and subtype-specific (d or y) determinants aspart of their structure. One particulate form, the Dane particle, is present as a minor component in most sera and may actually represent the virus of type B hepatitis.