Nucleotide sequence of the hepatitis B virus genome (subtype ayw) cloned in E. coli

Abstract
The complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus genome (subtype ayw) clones in E. coli was determined using the Maxam and Gilbert method and the dideoxynucleotide method. This sequence is 3182 nucleotides long. Location of the nonsense codons shows that the coding capacity of the L chain is larger than the coding capacity of the S chain. Eight open regions, able to code for polypeptide chains larger than 100 amino acids, were located. Region 6, which is the largest, covers more than 80% of the genome. The gene S which codes for polypeptide I of the HbsAg [hepatitis B surface antigen] and was previously located between coordinates 95.1 and 73.6 is contained in region 7.