Question

What are the three genes encoded by typical retroviruses? List them in order.

Answer 1

The three genes typically encoded by retroviruses are Gag, which codes for a structural protein; Pol, which includes reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease; and Env, which codes for envelope proteins.

Step-by-step explanation:

The three genes typically encoded by retroviruses are:

1. Gag, which encodes the group-specific antigen. This protein forms a virus-like particle that will contain reverse-transcribed transposon DNA.
2. Pol, which includes regions that encode the reverse transcriptase responsible for making reverse-transcribed copies of the retrotransposon transcript RNAs, as well as an integrase required for integration of the retrotransposon, and also a protease for breaking down the particle during integration into the nucleus.
3. Env, which encodes the envelope proteins necessary for the virus to infect host cells by attaching to and fusing with their membranes.

Retroviruses, like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), have genes made of RNA, which need to be reverse transcribed into DNA by a viral polymerase called reverse transcriptase before they can integrate into the host's genome. Many drugs used to treat HIV patients target the HIV reverse transcriptase, inhibiting the replication of the virus.