Complex Relationships between HIV-1 Integrase and Its Cellular Partners.

RNA viruses, in pursuit of genome miniaturization, tend to employ cellular proteins to facilitate their replication. HIV-1, one of the most well-studied retroviruses, is not an exception. There is numerous evidence that the exploitation of cellular machinery relies on nucleic acid-protein and protein-protein interactions.

A Fluorescent Assay to Search for Inhibitors of HIV-1 Integrase Interactions with Human Ku70 Protein, and Its Application for Characterization of Oligonucleotide Inhibitors.

The search for compounds that can inhibit the interaction of certain viral proteins with their cellular partners is a promising trend in the development of antiviral drugs. We have previously shown that binding of HIV-1 integrase with human Ku70 protein is essential for viral replication. Here, we present a novel, cheap, and fast assay to search for inhibitors of these proteins' binding based on the usage of genetically encoded fluorescent tags linked to both integrase and Ku70.

Ants as Object of Gerontological Research.

Social insects with identical genotype that form castes with radically different lifespans are a promising model system for studying the mechanisms underlying longevity. The main direction of progressive evolution of social insects, in particular, ants, is the development of the social way of life inextricably linked with the increase in the colony size. Only in a large colony, it is possible to have a developed polyethism, create large food reserves, and actively regulate the nest microclimate.