Abstract

About 20 years ago, large RNA–protein complexes called paraspeckles were discovered in cell nuclei. The main components of these complexes are SFPQ and NONO proteins and the long noncoding RNA NEAT1. Later, these proteins were found free in the nucleus and even in the cytoplasm. The functions of NEAT1 and paraspeckle proteins are quite diverse including retention of RNAs subjected to multiple editing of adenosine to inosine in the nucleus, response to DNA damage, transcription regulation, control of mRNA stability, regulation of splicing, and participation in the cell response to viral infection. Thus, there are numerous, albeit contradictory, data on the involvement of NEAT1, SFPQ, and NONO in the HIV-1 replicative cycle at its various stages. Here, we tried to briefly review the main cellular functions of NEAT1 RNA and SFPQ and NONO proteins. The goal of this review was also to summarize and, if possible, systematize the existing data on their role in the HIV-1 life cycle.