[Cloning and determining the primary structure of fragments of the RNA-polymerase beta-subunit genes from representatives of Baikal picoplankton].

Fragments of the RNA polymerase beta-subunit genes from representatives of picoplankton of Lake Baikal were cloned using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the resulting recombinant clones were sequenced. An analysis of 93 clones revealed 40 different sequences. A comparison of these nucleotide sequences and the corresponding amino acid sequences deduced with their homologues from databanks confirmed the high conservation of the RNA polymerase beta-subunit region involved in the formation of the enzyme active site.

Interaction of tRNA-derivatives and oligonucleotide primers with AZT-resistant mutants of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

While the molecular basis of HIV-1 AZT resistance has been widely studied, a biochemical explanation of this process is not well known. No significant changes in the binding affinity of reverse transcriptase (RT) mutants for AZT-triphosphate has been found. Here we analyzed the interaction of wild type and AZT-resistant mutant forms of HIV-1 RT with different primers.