Reverse transcriptase

Definition

Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that synthesizes complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template. It is essential for the replication of retroviruses, including HIV.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Reverse transcriptase allows retroviruses to integrate their genetic material into the host genome.
2. The enzyme lacks proofreading ability, leading to a high mutation rate in viruses like HIV.
3. In molecular biology, reverse transcriptase is used for creating cDNA libraries from mRNA.
4. Reverse transcription is a key step in the viral life cycle of retroviruses.
5. Inhibitors of reverse transcriptase are crucial components of antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment.

Review Questions

• What role does reverse transcriptase play in the viral life cycle?
• Why is reverse transcriptase important in genetic engineering?
• How does the lack of proofreading ability in reverse transcriptase affect retroviruses?

Related terms

Retrovirus: A type of virus that uses reverse transcriptase to replicate its RNA genome into DNA.

cDNA:

Complementary DNA synthesized from an RNA template by reverse transcriptase.

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART):

Treatment regimen using drugs to inhibit the replication of retroviruses such as HIV.