The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) X region encoded protein p13(II) interacts with cellular proteins

Interactions between the Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) gene p roduct p13 " and cellular proteins were investigated using the yeast two-hy brid system. Variant forms of p13 " were derived from two HTLV-I molecular clones, K30p and K34p, that differ in both Virus production and in vivo and in vitro infectivity. Two nucleotide differences between the p13 from K30p (p13K30) and K34p (p13K34) result in a Trp-Arg substitution at amino acid 17 and the truncation of the 25 carboxyl-terminal residues of p13K34. A cDN A library from an HTLV-1-infected rabbit T-cell line was screened with p13K 30 and p13K34 as bait, products of two cDNA clones, C44 and C254, interacte d with p13K34 but not with p13K30. Interactions were further confirmed usin g the GST;fusion protein coprecipitation assay. Sequence analysis of C44 an d C254 cDNA clones revealed similarities to members of the nucleoside monop hosphate kinase superfamily and actin-binding protein 280, respectively. Fu rther analysis of the function of these two proteins and the consequence of their interaction with p13 may help elucidate a role for p13 in virus prod uction, infectivity, or the pathogenesis of HTLV-I. (C) 2000 Academic Press .