Which of the following would be the first step in the biosynthesis of a virus with reverse transcriptase?
a. A complementary strand of RNA must be synthesized.
b. Double-stranded RNA must be synthesized.
c. A complementary strand of DNA must be synthesized from an RNA template.
d. A complementary strand of DNA must be synthesized from a DNA template.
e. none of the above

Question

Which of the following would be the first step in the biosynthesis of a virus with reverse transcriptase?

a. A complementary strand of RNA must be synthesized.

b. Double-stranded RNA must be synthesized.

c. A complementary strand of DNA must be synthesized from an RNA template.

d. A complementary strand of DNA must be synthesized from a DNA template.

e. none of the above

Accepted Answer

Hi, everyone. Let's take a look at the next problem in viruses that use the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which of the following is produced in the said process. A DNA BRN AC proteins or D viral copies. Let's recall that reverse transcriptase as we can remember fairly easily from, its name is an enzyme that catalyzes the process of reverse transcription. And again, that name leads us fairly logically to this process. Whereas transcription is the process of making an MRN A transcript from a DNA template. This is the process in reverse. So it makes a DNA molecule from an RNA genome and this occurs in retroviruses which are viruses that have RN A as their genetic material. So of course, a very famous example of this is the HIV virus. But the advantage of having an RN A genome is that allows very quick mutations. So the virus can quickly mutate and evade uh antibodies evade the immune system. But with RN A as its genetic material, it goes through this process of reverse transcription to make DNA from its RN A genome and the enzyme that catalyzes that process is reverse transcription. So in these viruses that use reverse transcriptase what is produced. And the answer is choice. A DNA choice BRN A is the starting material, not what is produced. So that's out to C proteins, proteins made in the usual way you have by utilizing the cells machinery. After the RN A genome is reversed transcribed into DNA, that DNA is integrated into the host cell's DNA as a prophage. And then it gets replicated along with the host cell's DNA. And from there transcribed into MRN A and translated into proteins. So the proteins are produced through that process, not by reverse transcriptase. And then choice d viral copies also not done by the reverse transcriptase. That's just the very first step in the process after the virus invades the host cell. So what's produced by the enzyme, reverse transcriptase in its process choice. A DNA. See you in the next video.

Verified Solution

Key Concepts

Reverse Transcriptase

Viral Biosynthesis

Complementary Strand Synthesis