Foundations in Microbiology
Foundations in Microbiology
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780073522609
Author: Kathleen Park Talaro, Barry Chess Instructor
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
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Chapter 9.L2, Problem 1CT

Knowing that retroviruses operate on the principle of reversing the direction of transcription from RNA to DNA, propose a drug that might possibly interfere with their replication.

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Summary Introduction

To analyze:

A possible drug that can interfere with the replication of retroviruses.

Introduction:

It is given that the retroviruses begin their replication with the conversion of their RNA into DNA. This is carried out by a specific type of RNA-dependent DNA polymerase carried by the retroviruses.

Explanation of Solution

Retroviruses are a unique group of viruses, that carry RNA as their genetic material, but need to convert it to DNA in the host. For this, they make use of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is a DNA polymerase that reads RNA as the template. After converting the RNA to DNA, the DNA serves as the master code for the synthesis of all proteins needed for the replication of the virus.

A drug to control such a virus could focus on this interesting mechanism of reverse transcription. If the drug can bind to reverse transcriptase and inhibit its activity in some way (such as preventing it from binding to the RNA template, or blocking the active sites that polymerize the DNA), it can prevent the replication of the virus. This can bring the virus under control.

Conclusion

Retroviruses rely on the enzyme reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA to DNA; this is an essential step in the replication of the virus. If a drug can inhibit the activity of reverse transcriptase, it can prevent the virus from replicating.

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Chapter 9 Solutions

Foundations in Microbiology

Ch. 9.1 - 5. Describe what is meant by the antiparallel...Ch. 9.1 - 6. Explain the synthesis of the leading and...Ch. 9.1 - 7. Name several characteristics of DNA structure...Ch. 9.2 - Prob. 7ELOCh. 9.2 - Prob. 8ELOCh. 9.2 - 9. Describe the different types of RNA and their...Ch. 9.2 - 11. Describe the genetic code, codons, and...Ch. 9.2 - 12. Recount the participants and steps in...Ch. 9.2 - Prob. 13ELOCh. 9.2 - 8. How is the language of a gene expressed?Ch. 9.2 - Prob. 9CYPCh. 9.2 - 10. Construct a table that compares the structure...Ch. 9.2 - Prob. 11CYPCh. 9.2 - Prob. 12CYPCh. 9.2 - Prob. 13CYPCh. 9.2 - Prob. 14CYPCh. 9.2 - 15. Briefly describe the events in translation.Ch. 9.2 - Prob. 16CYPCh. 9.2 - 17. Summarize how bacterial and eukaryotic cells...Ch. 9.2 - Prob. 18CYPCh. 9.3 - 14. Explain the functions of operons in bacterial...Ch. 9.3 - 15. Describe the main features of the lactose...Ch. 9.3 - 16. Describe the main features of repressible...Ch. 9.3 - 17. Summarize some aspects of genetic control by...Ch. 9.3 - 19. What is an operon? Describe the functions of...Ch. 9.3 - 20. Compare and contrast the lac operon and...Ch. 9.3 - Prob. 21CYPCh. 9.3 - 22. At which levels of DNA regulation do small...Ch. 9.4 - Prob. 18ELOCh. 9.4 - Summarize the causes and types of mutations and...Ch. 9.4 - Prob. 20ELOCh. 9.4 - Compare beneficial and detrimental effects of...Ch. 9.4 - Explain what is meant by the terms mutation and...Ch. 9.4 - Describe the primary causes, types, and outcomes...Ch. 9.4 - Explain the purposes behind replica plating and...Ch. 9.5 - Explain recombination in bacteria and what it...Ch. 9.5 - Describe the main features of conjugation and its...Ch. 9.5 - Prob. 24ELOCh. 9.5 - Identify the basic processes involved in...Ch. 9.5 - Discuss transposons and their importance to...Ch. 9.5 - Compare conjugation, transformation, and...Ch. 9.5 - Explain the differences between general and...Ch. 9.5 - By means of a flowchart, show the possible jumps...Ch. 9.6 - Explain the major elements of viral genetics.Ch. 9.6 - Compare aspects of the genetics of DNA and RNA...Ch. 9.6 - Explain why some viruses must enter the nucleus to...Ch. 9.6 - Explain the difference between positive-strand and...Ch. 9.L1 - What is the smallest unit of heredity (genotype)?...Ch. 9.L1 - Prob. 2MCQCh. 9.L1 - The nitrogen bases in DNA are bonded to the a....Ch. 9.L1 - DNA replication is considered semiconservative...Ch. 9.L1 - In DNA, adenine is the complementary base for...Ch. 9.L1 - The base pairs are held together primarily by a....Ch. 9.L1 - Why must the lagging strand of DNA be replicated...Ch. 9.L1 - Messenger RNA is formed by _______ of a gene on...Ch. 9.L1 - Prob. 9MCQCh. 9.L1 - Prob. 10MCQCh. 9.L1 - Prob. 11MCQCh. 9.L1 - Prob. 12MCQCh. 9.L1 - Prob. 13MCQCh. 9.L1 - Prob. 14MCQCh. 9.L1 - Which genetic material could be transmitted...Ch. 9.L1 - Prob. 16MCQCh. 9.L1 - Which of the following is present in prokaryotes...Ch. 9.L1 - Multiple Matching. Fill in the blanks with all the...Ch. 9.L1 - Prob. 1CSRCh. 9.L1 - Prob. 2CSRCh. 9.L1 - Explain how it would be possible for A. baumannii...Ch. 9.L1 - Prob. 1WCCh. 9.L1 - Prob. 2WCCh. 9.L1 - The following sequence represents triplets on DNA:...Ch. 9.L1 - Describe the actions οf all of the enzymes...Ch. 9.L1 - Prob. 5WCCh. 9.L2 - Knowing that retroviruses operate on the principle...Ch. 9.L2 - Using the piece of DNA in writing-challenge...Ch. 9.L2 - Why will a mistake in the RNA code alone not...Ch. 9.L2 - The enzymes required to carry out transcription...Ch. 9.L2 - Prob. 5CTCh. 9.L2 - Activation, transcription, and translation of the...Ch. 9.L2 - Explain the mechanisms by which RNA can control...Ch. 9.L2 - Ex�Ιain how epigenetics is related to the...Ch. 9.L2 - Use the concepts of chapters, letters, a whole...Ch. 9.L2 - From figure 9.17, step 3. Label each part of the...Ch. 9.L2 - Examine figure 8.11, and explain which type of...
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