What Is Reverse Transcriptase?
Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that is involved in transcribing single strands of DNA into single-stranded RNA. Reverse transcriptase is found in Class 6 viruses like HIV. The enzyme is capable of turning RNA into DNA, which is the reverse of the central dogma of DNA to RNA. Because the enzyme is capable of reversing normal transcription, viruses contain reverse transcriptase are called retroviruses.
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Function
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The use of RNA in retroviruses is for the replication of the viral genome. The viruses use reverse transcriptase to create DNA in the cell's cytoplasm. The DNA is then incorporated into the host cell's nucleus and DNA. After the viral genes are incorporated into the host's DNA, the normal cell processes transcribe the protein's necessary for viral replication.
Mutations
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RNA is a volatile molecule in that it can mutate often. When normal DNA functions are used to create more DNA or transcribe RNA, enzymes check and correct for errors. Reverse transcriptase does not have any error-checking processes, so errors are left in the new DNA strands. This causes frequent mutations and strains left in the host. This is also the reason for drug resistance.
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Telomerase
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Telomerase are the ends of chromosomes which add repeating genomic sequences to the ends of DNA. It is used during DNA replication and cell division. Telomerase is the enzyme that uses reverse transcriptase to "cap" the ends of DNA after the center genes have been transcribed. Telomerase are only present in plants and animal DNA.
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
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Reverse transcriptase inhibitors are the focus of antiviral drugs that help limit the amount of viral proteins in HIV patients. The antivirals disrupt the translation of the RNA into DNA, which inhibits the viruses ability to replicate. Without replication, the virus is destroyed and unable to infect other cells. Retrovir is a name brand for one of these drugs.
Genetic Engineering
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Reverse transcriptase is used in science to create library DNA. Library DNA (called cDNA or clonal DNA) is kept by scientists to study drug reactions or research DNA activity. Reverse transcriptase is also used in diagnostic tests called RT-PCR. These tests are used to diagnose infection in humans by transcribing RNA molecules quickly for analysis.
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