AZT-resistant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase
From Proteopedia
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Role of Reverse Transcriptase in HIV Replication
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) specifically attacks CD4 Helper T cells within a host's immune system and thus inhibits a host from being able to effectively fight off opportunistic infections. Reverse transcriptase plays a very important role in HIV infection, as it allows the virus to create DNA from its RNA. The creation of DNA allows HIV to incorporate its genetic information into the genome of the host cell. After being incorporated into a host genome, the genetic information from HIV is then replicated each time that the host genome is replicated. This allows HIV to lie dormant in a host before eventually lysing the host cell and releasing many new copies of the virus. The HIV DNA directs that host cell to create and assemble viral particles, thus causing the virus to greatly impact the host immune system.
Reverse transcriptase has two enzymatic activities: DNA polymerase and RNase H. DNA polymerase is necessary for copying a DNA or RNA template, while RNase H cleaves the RNA that is part of the DNA/RNA duplex. These two activities combine to convert RNA into linear, double-stranded DNA. This DNA is then incorporated in the host's genome. The DNA created by reverse transcriptase can then be copied by host polymerase in order to make more copies of the viral genome.
Structure of Reverse Transcriptase
Reverse transcriptase is a heterodimer of two related subunits: p66 and p51.
Inhibition of Reverse Transcriptase Activity
AZT Resistance
Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)
Alexandra Clement, David Canner, Michal Harel, Alexander Berchansky
