Question

How can reverse transcriptase inhibitors slow the replication of DNA? Give an example that lay persons without this knowledge could understand, and why they need to know it.

Answer 1

Reverse transcriptase inhibitors are generally used to treat HIV and other retroviral diseases. They often nucleoside or nucleotide analogues which incorporated into viral DNA. Due to lack of functional groups to react with the upcoming nucleotide, they cannot extend the DNA chain. Due to the inhibition of DNA chain elongation viral DNA synthesis will be stopped. and the without that virus cannot replicate and colonise into the human. Due to nonspecific-action, they also slow down the cellular DNA synthesis. For understanding, we can say that they block DNA synthesis by using base analogues which can enter into DNA chain but cannot make a bond with other nucleotides, so it terminates the DNA synthesis.