Identification and characterization of a protein kinase-interacting protein encoded by the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

We have used a yeast two-hybrid system to identify a baculoviral gene encoding a protein kinase-interacting protein (PKIP). The pkip gene is located at 15.8-16.2 m.u (map units) and represents ORF 24 in the sequence of Ayres et al. (1994) of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. PKIP is a 19.2-kDa protein and appears to stimulate the activity of the viral protein kinase-1 in vitro. Northern blotting analysis revealed that pkip is a late gene. Attempts to plaque purify a pkip- virus were unsuccessful.