Biochemical and genetic evidence for interactions between potato A potyvirus-encoded proteins P1 and P3 and proteins of the putative replication complex.

Interactions of the first and third proteins (P1 and P3) of the potato A potyvirus (PVA) with the other six main proteins of PVA were studied using Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant proteins in two in vitro interaction assays and a genetic assay yeast two-hybrid system (YTHS). In overlay blotting and binding assays in liquid, P1 and P3 interacted with each other and with proteins of the putative replication complex of potyvirus: RNA-helicase (CI), viral protein genome-linked (VPg), NIa proteinase part (NIaPro), and RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase (NIb). In addition, P1 self-interaction and interaction with helper-component proteinase (HC-Pro) also were detected. Neither P1 nor P3 interact with coat protein (CP) or with various control proteins. In the YTHS, P1 interacted only with CI and P3 with NIb. The different results obtained using the two test systems may reflect changes in interactions at different stages of potyvirus infection: in the virus genome replication and the virion accumulation stages when nonstructural proteins form inclusions. Our data are consistent with previous functional data, indicating that P1 and P3 proteins are involved in potyvirus genome amplification and provide the first direct evidence that these proteins interact with the proteins that have been shown to be part of the replication complex. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.