Human immunodeficiency vinus (HIV) is the retrovirus that...

Name: Problem 30, Chapter 26: Organic Chemistry
Uploaded: 2020-07-31T15:30:56-08:00
Duration: 58 s
Channel: Yokshitha Reddy Bathula
Description: Human immunodeficiency vinus (HIV) is the retrovirus that causes AIDS. AZT was one of the first drugs designed to interfere with retroviral DNA synthesis. When cells take up AZT, they convert it to AZT-triphosphate. Explain how AZT interferes with DNA synthesis.

Human immunodeficiency vinus (HIV) is the retrovirus that causes AIDS. AZT was one of the first drugs designed to interfere with retroviral DNA synthesis. When cells take up AZT, they convert it to AZT-triphosphate. Explain how AZT interferes with DNA synthesis.

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Key Concepts

Reverse Transcriptase Inhibition

Drugs aimed at inhibiting reverse transcriptase, such as AZT, target the enzyme responsible for converting viral RNA into DNA. By interfering with this crucial step, the replication cycle of retroviruses is halted, which reduces the spread of the infection within the host.

Chain Termination

The critical mechanism by which AZT interferes with DNA synthesis is chain termination. AZT lacks a 3’-OH group required for the formation of phosphodiester bonds with the next nucleotide. When incorporated into the growing DNA chain, this deficiency prevents further elongation, effectively halting DNA synthesis and viral replication.

Nucleoside Analog Mechanism

AZT is a nucleoside analog, meaning it resembles the natural nucleosides used in DNA synthesis. Once inside the cell, AZT is converted into its active triphosphate form, which allows it to compete with natural nucleoside triphosphates for incorporation into the viral DNA during elongation.

Retroviral Replication

Retroviruses, like HIV, replicate by reverse transcribing their RNA genome into DNA. This process is performed by the reverse transcriptase enzyme and is essential for viral replication, as the created DNA integrates into the host genome, enabling the production of new viral particles.

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