reverse transcriptase

n. A polymerase that catalyzes the formation of DNA on an RNA template, found in the retroviruses and in certain other viruses, such as hepatitis B virus.

reverse transcriptase

(trænˈskrɪpteɪz) n (Biochemistry) an enzyme present in retroviruses that copies RNA into DNA, thus reversing the usual flow of genetic information in which DNA is copied into RNA

reverse′ tran•scrip′tase

(trænˈskrɪp teɪs, -teɪz)
n. a retrovirus enzyme that synthesizes DNA from viral RNA, the reverse of the usual DNA-to-RNA replication: used in genetic engineering. [1970–75]

Thesaurus

Noun

reverse transcriptase - a polymerase that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template; found especially in retrovirusespolymerase - an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of new DNA and RNA from an existing strand of DNA or RNA

reverse transcriptase

Reverse transcriptase

Any of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerases present in particles of retroviruses which are able to carry out DNA synthesis using an RNA template. This reaction is called reverse transcription since it is the opposite of the usual transcription reaction, which involves RNA synthesis using a DNA template. See Retrovirus

The transfer of genetic information from RNA to DNA in retrovirus replication was proposed in 1964 by H. M. Temin in the DNA provirus hypothesis for the replication of Rous sarcoma virus, an avian retrovirus which causes tumors in chickens and transformation of cells in culture, and reverse transcriptase has since been purified from virions of many retroviruses. The avian, murine, and human retrovirus DNA polymerases have been extensively studied.

Studies indicate that reverse transcriptase is widely distributed in living organisms and that all reverse transcriptases are evolutionarily related. For example, the organization of the nucleotide sequence of integrated retroviral DNA has a remarkable resemblance to the structure of bacterial transposable elements, in particular, transposons.

Reverse transcriptase genes are present in the eukaryotic organisms in retrotransposons and in retroposons or long interspersed (LINE) elements. Both of these types of elements can transpose in cells. See Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), Ribonucleic acid (RNA), Transposons

reverse transcriptase

[ri′vərs tran′skrip‚tās] (genetics) A polymerase that mediates deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by using a ribonucleic acid template.

reverse transcriptase

[re-vers´ tran-skrip´tās] an enzyme of viruses" >RNA viruses that catalyzes the transcription of RNA to DNA, which is then incorporated into the genome of the host cell. This is the reverse of the usual mechanism for replication of genetic information; in the presence of this enzyme it is the RNA that serves as the template for DNA copies. It is one mechanism by which reproduction of cancer cells is facilitated. Called also RNA-directed DNA polymerase.

re·verse tran·scrip·tase

RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, present in virions of RNA tumor viruses (retroviruses).

reverse transcriptase

n. A polymerase that catalyzes the formation of DNA on an RNA template, found in the retroviruses and in certain other viruses, such as hepatitis B virus.

re·verse trans·crip·tase

(RT) (rē-vĕrs' tran-skrip'tās) RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, present in virions of RNA tumor viruses.

reverse transcriptase

An enzyme that allows certain viruses, notable HIV, to synthesize double strand DNA from a single strand of RNA so that it can be incorporated into the genome of the host cell. Such viruses are called retroviruses.

reverse transcriptase

an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that catalyses the synthesis of DNA from deoxyribonucleoside-5′-triphosphate, using RNA as a template.

re·verse trans·crip·tase

(rĕ-vĕrs' tran-skrip'tās) RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, present in virions of RNA tumor viruses.

reverse transcriptase

reverse transcriptase

reverse transcriptase

reverse′ tran•scrip′tase

reverse transcriptase

Reverse transcriptase

reverse transcriptase

reverse transcriptase

reverse transcriptase

re·verse tran·scrip·tase

reverse transcriptase

re·verse trans·crip·tase

reverse transcriptase

reverse transcriptase

re·verse trans·crip·tase

reverse transcriptase

Words related to reverse transcriptase

noun a polymerase that catalyzes the formation of DNA using RNA as a template

Related Words