Nukleosididitidikäänteistranskriptaasi

Nukleosididitidikäänteistranskriptaasi (NDT) is a class of enzymes that play a crucial role in the replication of certain viruses, most notably retroviruses like HIV. These enzymes are reverse transcriptases, meaning they catalyze the synthesis of DNA from an RNA template. The "nukleosidiidi" part of the name refers to the fact that these enzymes utilize nucleoside triphosphates as their building blocks for DNA synthesis. Specifically, NDT enzymes incorporate nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) into the growing viral DNA chain.

NDT enzymes function by binding to the viral RNA genome and initiating the synthesis of a complementary DNA strand. This process is essential for the virus to integrate its genetic material into the host cell's genome, allowing for viral replication. The unique mechanism of NDT enzymes makes them a primary target for antiviral drug development. Many antiretroviral medications used to treat HIV infection are NRTIs. These drugs mimic the natural nucleoside building blocks but lack a crucial hydroxyl group at the 3' position of the sugar ring. When incorporated by the NDT enzyme into the viral DNA, this structural difference terminates further DNA elongation, effectively halting viral replication. While effective, the use of NRTIs can be associated with side effects and the development of drug resistance, necessitating ongoing research into new antiviral strategies.