Retroviral Reverse Transcriptases

This text deals with reverse transcriptase, an enzyme which is crucial in the replication of retroviruses (pathogen agents which may cause tumours, leukaemias and AIDS). The structure and function of the enzyme is described, with special emphasis on the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, since a great multidisciplinary effort has been devoted to this enzyme because of its link with AIDS. The presence of reverse transcriptase in other animal, plant, yeast and bacterial systems is mentioned.