Zidovudine (AZT) is a drug used to treat patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AZT works by blocking
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2022 2:33 pm
Zidovudine (AZT) is a drug used to treat patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AZT works by blocking the reverse transcriptase enzyme used by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of AIDS. What type of transposable elements would be affected by AZT and what would be the most likely effect? LTR retrotransposons only would be blocked at the reverse transcription step. All transposable elements would be affected, as they would no longer be able to transpose to a new location. Transposable elements that use an RNA intermediate for transposition would be affected, as the RNA intermediate would not be able to be converted into DNA. All types of retrotransposons would be blocked at the reverse transcription step. Transposable elements that transpose through a copy-and-paste mechanism would be blocked at the replication step.