Phosphorylation Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein in Mammalian Cells

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) C gene encodes the core protein and the precore protein. The core protein, also known as the core antigen, is an important serologic marker for HBV infection. Although this protein is rarely detected in free forms in patients with HBV, the antibody directed against this protein is almost always found in people who have been exposed to HBV.