AIM: To explore the effects of the nucleoside analogues β-L-D4A and p-LPA on hepatitis B virus (HBV) promoters.METHODS: Four HBV promoters were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subcloned into the expression vector pEGFP-1. The four recombinants controlled by HBV promoters were confirmed by restriction analysis and sequencing. Human hepatoma HepG2 cells transfected with the recombinant plasmids were treated with various concentrations of β-L-D4A and β-LPA. Then, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-positive cells were detected by fluorescence microscopy and using a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS).RESULTS: Four HBV promoters were separately obtained and successfully cloned into pEGFP-1. Expression of EGFP under the control of the surface promoter (Sp) and the X promoter (Xp) was inhibited by p-L-D4A in a dose dependent manner, while expression of EGFP under the control of the core promoter (Cp) and Xp was inhibited by β-LPA in a dose-dependent manner.CONCLUSION: The two novel nucleoside analogues investigated here can inhibit the activities of HBV promoters in a dose-dependent manner. These findings may explain the mechanisms of action by which these two novel compounds inhibit HBV DNA replication.