Käänteistranslaatio

Käänteistranslaatio is a Finnish term that translates to reverse transcription in English. It refers to the biological process where an RNA molecule is used as a template to synthesize a complementary DNA (cDNA) molecule. This process is the reverse of the usual flow of genetic information, which goes from DNA to RNA through transcription.

The key enzyme responsible for käänteistranslaatio is an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. This enzyme is naturally found in retroviruses, such as HIV. In these viruses, reverse transcriptase allows them to convert their RNA genome into DNA, which can then be integrated into the host cell's genome. This integration is crucial for the virus's replication cycle.

Beyond its role in viral biology, käänteistranslaatio is a fundamental tool in molecular biology research. Scientists use reverse transcriptase in the laboratory to create cDNA from messenger RNA (mRNA). This cDNA can then be used for various applications, including gene cloning, gene expression analysis (like in RT-PCR), and the creation of DNA libraries. The ability to convert RNA into DNA allows researchers to study RNA molecules indirectly and to manipulate genetic material in ways that would otherwise be impossible. The discovery of reverse transcriptase and the process of käänteistranslaatio earned Harold Varmus and Michael Bishop the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1989.