Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

89
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
89
LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

17.7K
LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
17.7K
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

46.5K
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
46.5K
Leaky Scanning02:28

Leaky Scanning

5.2K
During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R...
5.2K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

12.6K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
12.6K
Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

11.7K
As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
11.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Functional comparison of SP6 RNA polymerase and T7 RNA polymerase.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Human RNA ligase 1 as a novel regulator of ribosome function and translation under oxidative stress.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

Non-hydrolyzable acetyllysine analogs to study protein acetylation in vitro and in cells.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

The IFN I response in tumor cells is shaped by PARP7-p300/CBP interactions through distinct loss- and gain-of-function mechanisms.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Potent inhibitors of the human RNA ligase Rlig1 highlights its role in RNA integrity maintenance under oxidative cellular stress.

Chemical science·2025
Same author

Proteomic Profiling of Potential E6AP Substrates via Ubiquitin-based Photo-Crosslinking Assisted Affinity Enrichment.

Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells
13:07

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells

Published on: January 30, 2019

9.4K

Reverse Transcriptases: From Discovery and Applications to Xenobiology.

Luisa B Huber1, Karin Betz1, Andreas Marx1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany.

Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology
|November 10, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Reverse transcriptases, enzymes that synthesize DNA from RNA, remain crucial in modern biotechnology. Ongoing research continually enhances their applications in molecular diagnostics and sequencing.

Keywords:
DNA polymerasesRNA detectionRT-PCRXNAreverse transcriptases

More Related Videos

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
10:29

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Published on: May 9, 2025

1.4K
Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment
10:24

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment

Published on: September 27, 2015

10.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells
13:07

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells

Published on: January 30, 2019

9.4K
Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
10:29

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Published on: May 9, 2025

1.4K
Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment
10:24

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment

Published on: September 27, 2015

10.8K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Enzymology

Background:

  • Reverse transcriptases (RTs) are enzymes that synthesize DNA using an RNA template, a process termed reverse transcription.
  • Discovered in 1970, RTs have consistently been a focus of research and development.
  • These enzymes are integral to various biotechnological and molecular diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the discovery and historical significance of reverse transcriptases.
  • To summarize current research findings and diverse applications of RTs.
  • To highlight the evolving role of RTs in modern scientific methodologies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of reverse transcriptase discovery.
  • Synthesis of research results on RTs.
  • Categorization of RT applications in biotechnology and diagnostics.

Main Results:

  • Detailed account of the discovery of reverse transcriptases.
  • Comprehensive overview of RT applications including molecular cloning, virus detection, and sequencing.
  • Exploration of emerging applications such as xenobiology.

Conclusions:

  • Reverse transcriptases are fundamental enzymes with a rich history and expanding utility.
  • Continued development of RTs fuels innovation in molecular biology, diagnostics, and beyond.
  • RTs are indispensable tools for contemporary life science research and applications.