A Reverse transcriptase (RT) is an enzyme used to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template, a process termed reverse transcription.It is mainly associated with retroviruses.
All the proteins in the virus particle are encoded by its own genes. When a retrovirus infects a cell. 1  its molecules of reverse transcriptase are carried into the cell attached to the viral RNA molecules. 2  The reverse transcriptase synthesizes DNA copies of the RNA. 3  These enter the nucleus and are. 4  inserted into the DNA of the host.  However, retroviruses function differently – their RNA is reverse-transcribed into DNA, which is integrated into the host cell's genome (when it becomes a provirus), and then undergoes the usual transcription and translational processes to express the genes carried by the virus. Once these have been bound, the cell membrane degrades, becoming part of the host cell, and the RNA strands and enzymes go into the cell (3). Within the cell, reverse transcriptase creates a complementary strand of DNA from the retrovirus RNA and the RNA is degraded; this strand of DNA is known as cDNA (4). The cDNA is then replicated, and the two strands form a weak bond and go into the nucleus (5) Once inside the host cell cytoplasm, the virus uses its own reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome, the reverse of the usual pattern, thus retro (backwards). Once these have been bound, the cell membrane degrades, becoming part of the host cell, and the RNA strands and enzymes go into the cell (3). Within the cell, reverse transcriptase creates a complementary strand of DNA from the retrovirus RNA and the RNA is degraded; this strand of DNA is known as cDNA (4). The cDNA is then replicated, and the two strands form a weak bond and go into the nucleus (5 A Reverse transcriptase (RT) is an enzyme used to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) from an RNA template, a process termed reverse transcription. It is mainly associated with retroviruses. However, non-retroviruses also use RT (for example, the hepatitis B virus, a member of the Hepadnaviridae, which are dsDNA-RT viruses, while retroviruses are ssRNA viruses). RT inhibitors are widely used as antiretroviral drugs Reverse Transcriptases. Reverse transcriptase is a common name for an enzyme that functions as a RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. They are encoded by retroviruses, where they copy the viral RNA genome into DNA prior to its integration into host cells. 1 DNA polymerase activity: In the retroviral life cycle, reverse transcriptase copies only RNA, but, as used in the laboratory, it will transcribe both single-stranded RNA and single-stranded DNA templates with essentially equivalent efficiency. 2  In both cases, an RNA or DNA primer is required to initiate synthesis. Function. The use of RNA in retroviruses is for the replication of the viral genome. The viruses use reverse transcriptase to create DNA in the cell's cytoplasm. The DNA is then incorporated into the host cell's nucleus and DNA. After the viral genes are incorporated into the host's DNA, the normal cell processes transcribe the protein's necessary for viral replication. Retroviridae is a family of enveloped viruses that replicate in a host cell through the process of reverse transcription. A retrovirus is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus with a DNA intermediate and, as an obligate parasite, targets a host cell. Once these have been bound, the cell membrane degrades, becoming part of the host cell, and the RNA strands and enzymes go into the cell (3). Within the cell, reverse transcriptase creates a complementary strand of DNA from the retrovirus RNA and the RNA is degraded; this strand of DNA is known as cDNA (4). The cDNA is then replicated, and the two strands form a weak bond and go into the nucleus (5) Retrovirus. Retroviruses are enveloped viruses that belong to the viral family Retroviridae. A retrovirus is an RNA virus that is duplicated in a host cell using the reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome. On infection, the single-stranded RNA viral genome and the enzyme enters the host cell.  Biotechnology Index Glossary Reverse Transcriptases Reverse transcriptase is a common name for an enzyme that functions as a RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. They are encoded by retroviruses, where they copy the viral RNA genome into DNA prior to its integration into host cells. 1 DNA polymerase activity: In the retroviral life cycle, reverse transcriptase copies only RNA, but, as used in the laboratory, it will transcribe both single-stranded RNA and single-stranded DNA templates with essentially equivalent efficiency. 2  In both cases, an RNA or DNA primer is required to initiate synthesis.
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/R/Retroviruses.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrovirus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrovirus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_transcriptase http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/genetics/biotech/enzymes/rt.html http://www.ehow.com/about_5207385_reverse-transcriptase_.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrovirus http://www.discoverbiotech.com/wiki/-/wiki/Main/Retroviruses+and+Reverse+Transcriptases http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/genetics/biotech/enzymes/rt.html
why do retroviruses use reverse transcriptase