Integrase Inhibitors: these drugs block the incorporation of viral DNA into the

Question

Integrase Inhibitors: these drugs block the incorporation of viral DNA into the host cell genome Viral DNA is formed by reverse transcription al RNA Reverse transcriptase 4 Viral DNA is transported across the nucleus and integrates into the host DNA Integrase -Viral DNA 3000 Host DNA New viral RNA Taken from: http://www.avert.org/hiv-drugs-development.htm HIV is an RNA virus. It must be converted into DNA in the cytoplasm (that is where the term retrovirus comes froml). The DNA is then integrated into the host genome by making a small cut in the DNA strand of the host cell. 2. Use the above information to determine where the Integrase inhibitors can stop the viral genome from being incorporated into the host cell. (Hint: there are three ways in which integration can be inhibited)

Explanation / Answer

Answer:- Intergrase inhibitors are the class of antiretroviral drugs designed to block the activity of integrase. Intergrase is an enzyme which is responsible for inserting the retroviral genome into the host cell. This genome then incorporates itself into the host genome. Subsequent replication of host cell genome will also result in replication of viral genome and this is how HIV and other retroviruses spread their infection. Since intergration is the most important step to make viral replication possible, halting it in any way stops the further spread of virus. Intergrase inhibitors were first developed against HIV but were later used against all retroviruses. There are two types of integrase inhibitors identified till now.

1. Intergrase strand transfer inhibitors (blocks the strand transfer reaction and final ligation of processed viral DNA into host genome)

2. Intergrase binding inhibitors

Of these two intIntergr strand transfer inhibitors are approved by FDA for clinical use in HIV patients. And 2nd class of inhibitors are still in experimentation stage.

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