J.-H. James Ou Professor Molecular Microbiology & Immunology Keck School of Medicine

Education:
BS 1976 Zoology - National Taiwan University, Taiwan
PhD 1982 Molecular Virology - California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship:
1986 University of California, San Francisco

Started at USC: 1986

Research Topics: Virology, Gene Regulation/Transcription, Cancer Cell Biology

Research Description

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can both cause severe liver diseases including hepatitis and liver cancer. The research of our laboratory is focused on the molecular biology of these two clinically important viruses. Our research goal is to understand how these two viruses replicate and induce hepatocellular oncogenesis.

HBV has a circular 3.2 Kb DNA genome that contains four overlapping transcription units. An ongoing research project of this laboratory is to understand how these four transcription units communicate with each other for their expressions. We are also interested in the biological functions of various HBV gene products. Recent studies of ours indicate that the subcellular localization of HBV core antigen is a regulated process and the HBV X protein is an auxiliary factor for HBV replication. Experiments are in progress to examine the significance of these findings in HBV replication and pathogenesis.

HCV is an RNA virus. The genome of this virus encodes at least ten viral gene products. Our attention at present is being focused on the structural proteins, which include the core protein and the E1 and E2 envelope proteins, and the NS2 protein. We are studying how these proteins interact with each other and with the viral RNA to regulate HCV replication and to form the mature virus particle. In addition, our recent studies have revealed the presence of a new HCV gene encoded by an alternative reading frame. We are investigating the molecular mechanism that regulates the expression of this new gene and its possible functions in the HCV life cycle.

Selected Publications

Ma HC, Lin TW, Li H, Iguchi-Ariga SM, Ariga H, Chuang YL, Ou JH, Lo SY. - Hepatitis C virus ARFP/F protein interacts with cellular MM-1 protein and enhances the gene trans-activation activity of c-Myc. - J Biomed Sci [ 2008 ] Apr 9; . PubMed

Zheng Y, Chen WL, Ma WL, Chang C, Ou JH. - Enhancement of gene transactivation activity of androgen receptor by hepatitis B virus X protein. - Virology [ 2007 ] Jul 5;363(2):454-61 . PubMed

Zheng Y, Chen WL, Louie SG, Yen TS, Ou JH. - Hepatitis B virus promotes hepatocarcinogenesis in transgenic mice. - Hepatology [ 2007 ] Jan;45(1):16-21 . PubMed

Choi J, Forman HJ, Ou JH, Lai MM, Seronello S, Nandipati A. - Redox modulation of the hepatitis C virus replication complex is calcium dependent. - Free Radic Biol Med [ 2006 ] Nov 1;41(9):1488-98 . PubMed

Choi J, Ou JH. - Mechanisms of liver injury. III. Oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus. - Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol [ 2006 ] May;290(5):G847-51 . PubMed

Zheng Y, Fu XD, Ou JH. - Suppression of hepatitis B virus replication by SRPK1 and SRPK2 via a pathway independent of the phosphorylation of the viral core protein. - Virology [ 2005 ] Nov 10;342(1):150-8 . PubMed

Zheng Y, Li J, Ou JH. - Regulation of hepatitis B virus core promoter by transcription factors HNF1 and HNF4 and the viral X protein. - J Virol [ 2004 ] Jul;78(13):6908-14 . PubMed

Lee KJ, Choi J, Ou JH, Lai MM. - The C-terminal transmembrane domain of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA polymerase is essential for HCV replication in vivo. - J Virol [ 2004 ] Apr;78(7):3797-802 . PubMed

Xu Z, Ou JH. - Endogenous polymerase assay for the analysis of hepatitis B virus in transgenic mice. - Methods Mol Med [ 2004 ] 95:295-302 . PubMed

Li J, Zheng Y, Choi J, Ou JH. - Phosphorylation analysis of hepatitis B virus core protein in mammalian cells. - Methods Mol Med [ 2004 ] 95:227-33 . PubMed