Reverse Transcription

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The third of seven steps in the HIV life cycle. Once inside a CD4 cell, HIV releases and uses reverse transcriptase (an HIV enzyme) to convert its genetic material—HIV RNA—into HIV DNA. The conversion of HIV RNA to HIV DNA allows HIV to enter the CD4 cell nucleus and combine with the cell’s genetic material—cell DNA.

Related Term(s)
Life Cycle
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NNRTI)
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI)
Reverse Transcriptase (RT)
Image(s): (Click to enlarge)
Graph of reverse transcription in the HIV life cycle, where an HIV enzyme converts HIV RNA into HIV DNA.
Life cycle of HIV: 1) cell binding, 2) fusion, 3) reverse transcription, 4) Integration, 5) replication, 6) assembly, and 7) budding out.

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