Akademik

Reverse transcriptase
The enzyme that permits the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other retroviruses to use their viral RNA as a template to make DNA. Reverse transcriptase is so-named because it reverses the usual transcription of DNA into RNA and lets RNA be transcribed into DNA.

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reverse transcriptase n a polymerase esp. of retroviruses that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template

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an enzyme, found mainly in retrovirus, that catalyses the synthesis of DNA from RNA. It enables the viral RNA to be integrated into the host DNA. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors are antiviral drugs that inhibit this process; they include zidovudine and didanosine, used in the treatment of HIV infection, and lamivudine (Epivir, Zeffix), for treating HIV infection and hepatitis B.

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re·verse tran·scrip·tase (re-vursґ tran-skripґtās) RNA-directed DNA polymerase.

Medical dictionary. 2011.