Abstract
REPORTS by Temin1 and Baltimore2 indicate that an RNA dependent DNA polymerase is present in oncogenic RNA viruses. These reports, now confirmed and extended3–6, provide a mechanism by which an RNA virus can insert stable genetic information into a host chromosome. Most recently, Gallo et al.7 have reported an RNA dependent DNA polymerase, apparently analogous to that of the RNA tumour viruses, in lymphoblasts of leukaemic patients. This enzyme is strongly inhibited by N-demethylrifampicin, and to a lesser extent by rifampicin7. The potential chemotherapeutic importance of these findings clearly warrants an immediate survey of related compounds which may inhibit, perhaps selectively, these “reverse transcriptases”. The relationship, if any, between cell growth characteristics and the continued presence of this novel enzyme is not yet known, but the implications are clear.
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References
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BROCKMAN, W., CARTER, W., LI, LH. et al. Streptovaricins inhibit RNA Dependent DNA Polymerase Present in an Oncogenic RNA Virus. Nature 230, 249–250 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/230249a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/230249a0
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