What unique enzyme do retroviruses possess?
reverse transcriptase
reverse transcriptase, also called RNA-directed DNA polymerase, an enzyme encoded from the genetic material of retroviruses that catalyzes the transcription of retrovirus RNA (ribonucleic acid) into DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
How are retroviruses unique from other types of viruses?
Retroviruses differ from other viruses in that each virion contains two complete copies of the single-stranded RNA genome.
Which of the following processes is unique to retroviruses?
The unique steps in the retroviral growth cycle are reverse transcription and, especially, integration. Reverse transcription generates a progenitor proviral DNA copy from which the entire viral progeny of the cell is derived by polymerase-II-mediated transcription.
What enzyme do retroviruses contain?
The virion particles of all retroviruses contain reverse transcriptase, a multifunctional enzyme required for the synthesis of a DNA copy of the viral RNA genome soon after entry into the infected cell. The enzyme is the target of the major antiviral drugs currently in use in the treatment of AIDS.
How do retroviruses replicate?
A retrovirus is a virus whose genes are encoded in RNA, and, using an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, replicates itself by first reverse-coding its genes into the DNA of the cells it infects.
How are retroviruses unique from other types of viruses chegg?
Retroviruses are unique because they have two complete copies of + sense RNA. They also contain the enzyme called Reverse transchprar This enzyme uses viral RNA to make of DNA which is then replicated to form a dsDNA.
What is retrovirus biology?
A retrovirus is a virus that uses RNA as its genetic material. When a retrovirus infects a cell, it makes a DNA copy of its genome that is inserted into the DNA of the host cell.
What are the characteristics of retroviruses?
Retroviruses are enveloped, contain a diploid RNA genome which is generally between 7 and 11 kb, and possess the ability to convert their RNA genome to double-stranded DNA following infection of the host cell The process of synthesizing the DNA copy of the RNA genome (known as reverse transcription) is error prone.
When AZT is present which enzyme is inhibited?
Previously, we have demonstrated that AZT binds preferentially to telomeres, inhibits telomerase and enhances tumor cell senescence, and apoptosis after AZT treatment in breast mammary adenocarcinoma cells.
Are retroviruses enveloped?
Retroviruses are enveloped RNA viruses able to integrate their genome as a DNA copy into the genome of the infected cell. For this, two viral enzymes are required: the reverse transcriptase producing a DNA copy from the RNA genome and the integrase.
What is unique about retrovirus replication?
Key to the unique attributes of a retrovirus is the pol region, which encodes a reverse trancriptase (RT), RT is the enzyme which takes the RNA form of the retrovirus genome and converts into DNA, the DNA form of which can integrate into the host genome.