Reverse transcriptase

[Franck Brunel]

PLS-

You are correct, it would be ridiculous for the cell to have reverse 
transcriptase around-so the virus carries the enzyme itself. All 
retroviruses have some form of the virus that they encode themselves. 
Interestingly, retroviruses tend to select for the more error-prone 
forms of reverse transcriptase in order to enhance their mutability. 
While this at first may seem counter-intuitive, there is a distinct 
advantage to the virus-it can mutate more quickly inside the host and 
thus avoid detection by the imune system.

																							-Sean

Sean Stevens PhD: stevens at rockvax.rockefeller.edu
The Rockefeller University