Retroviruses: Difference between revisions
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A retrovirus is a | A retrovirus is a [[Virus|virus]] with an [[MRNA|mRNA]] based [[Genome|genome]]. They use their own [[Reverse transcriptase]] from within their capsid to convert their viral m[[RNA|RNA]] genome to c[[DNA|DNA]] that can be integrated into the hosts [[Genome|genome]] via an integrase [[Enzyme|enzyme]] which acts akin to a [[Transposon|transposon]]. This results in the host inadvertently duplicating the virus. Retroviruses all have principal proteins in common. The principal proteins are translated as polyproteins which are cleaved later on to form the functional components. The term 'retro' stems from the fact that the virus has reversed the usual flow of [[DNA|DNA]] to [[RNA|RNA]] . | ||
Well known viruses in this class are [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] and [[HTLV]] <ref>Dimmock et al. (2007) Introduction to modern virology, 6th edition, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing</ref>. | |||
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Latest revision as of 04:22, 24 October 2014
A retrovirus is a virus with an mRNA based genome. They use their own Reverse transcriptase from within their capsid to convert their viral mRNA genome to cDNA that can be integrated into the hosts genome via an integrase enzyme which acts akin to a transposon. This results in the host inadvertently duplicating the virus. Retroviruses all have principal proteins in common. The principal proteins are translated as polyproteins which are cleaved later on to form the functional components. The term 'retro' stems from the fact that the virus has reversed the usual flow of DNA to RNA .
Well known viruses in this class are AIDS and HTLV [1].
References
- ↑ Dimmock et al. (2007) Introduction to modern virology, 6th edition, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing