Networks of protein-protein interactions among structural proteins of budded virus of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus

The structural proteins of baculovirus are well studied, but the interactions between them remain unclear. In order to reveal protein-protein interactions among viral structural proteins and their associated proteins of the budded virus of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), the yeast two hybrid (Y2H) system was used to evaluate the interactions of 27 viral genes products. Fifty-seven interactions were identified with 51 binary interactions and 6 self-associations. Among them, 10 interactions were further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation assays. Five interaction networks were formed based on the direct-cross Y2H assays. VP39, 38 K, and FP were identified to interact with most of the viral proteins, and may form major structural elements of the viral architecture. In addition, each envelope protein was detected to interact with more than one capsid protein. These results suggest how viral structural and structural associated proteins may assemble to form a complete virus through interacting with each other.