Chapter 19, Problem 13STP

Summary Introduction

To analyze :

To formulate a hypothesis regarding disrupting the life cycle of a retrovirus such as HIV to slow or stop the reproduction of virus.

Introduction :

Retroviruses such as HIV, are single-stranded RNA as their genome. These viruses infect the host and bind to the cell surface through the receptors. The whole viral genome is taken into the cell of the host except the envelop. The viral genome is reverse transcribed into DNA by the action of an enzyme reverse transcriptase. The DNA strand then form a complementary strand of DNA to form double stranded copy. This double stranded viral DNA then incorporated into the host genome. The incorporated viral genome transcribed into mRNA along with the host genome. The viral genome is then translated to get expressed.

Explanation of Solution

To slow or stop reproduction of virus we can target the enzyme reverse transcriptase. The host genome is in the form of double stranded DNA. While the retroviral genome is in the form of two copies of single-stranded RNA.

When a retrovirus infects a host cell, only its genome enters the cell. the genome of the retrovirus could not use the host’s replication machinery. Reverse transcriptase is an enxyme that synthesize proviral DNA from the viral genome. Thus, by targeting the enzyme reverse transcriptase we can slow down the process of proviral DNA synthesis. To block the activity of reverse transcriptase, drugs which can bind to it and change its configuration could be effective.

Once the reverse transcription is blocked, the viral genome could no longer be able to enter the nucleus of the cell. it won’t be able to incorporate itself into the host’s genome too. It will result in the disruption of the life cycle of a retrovirus.

Conclusion

To slow down or stop the reproduction of retrovirus, targeting the process of reverse transcription could lead to blockage in proviral DNA synthesis.