Final answer:
The enzyme reverse transcriptase is critical for converting HIV's RNA into DNA, allowing the virus to integrate into the host's genome and replicate. Drugs targeting this enzyme, like AZT, can suppress HIV by inhibiting its activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The viral protein that is necessary for the creation of HIV DNA is known as reverse transcriptase. This enzyme is crucial because it allows the conversion of the virus's single-stranded RNA into double-stranded DNA, which can then integrate into the host's genome. Specifically, during an HIV infection, after the virus enters a CD4 cell, the viral RNA is released and reverse transcriptase synthesizes a complementary DNA strand. Subsequently, this enzyme creates a double-stranded viral DNA (VDNA), which integrates into the host cell's DNA with the help of an enzyme called integrase.
Drugs designed to treat HIV often target reverse transcriptase. Inhibitors such as AZT function by curtailing the activity of this enzyme, effectively hindering the replication of the virus without adversely affecting the host's metabolism. This strategy is particularly important because HIV's reverse transcriptase lacks proofreading capabilities and can quickly lead to mutations and drug resistance.