Fig. 1: Schematic of human NTCP-mediated HBV infection.
From: Structure of antiviral drug bulevirtide bound to hepatitis B and D virus receptor protein NTCP
Bile salt uptake into hepatocytes is mediated by NTCP, located in the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes. HBV interacts with heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) by low-affinity attachment, followed by interaction with the NTCP receptor protein, initiating the entry of viral particles into the hepatocytes. HBV-NTCP interaction occurs via high-affinity binding of the myristyolated preS1 domain of LHBs to NTCP. This process can be inhibited by bulevirtide, a preS1-derived peptide.
