Final answer:
AZT works by inhibiting reverse transcriptase, an enzyme HIV needs to replicate, by mimicking dTTP and subsequently blocking further DNA elongation due to its lack of a 3'OH group.
Correct option is a) Inhibits reverse transcriptase
Step-by-step explanation:
The drug AZT, or azidothymidine, works by inhibiting the function of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is critical for the HIV virus to replicate. AZT mimics the structure of deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP), a natural nucleoside used by reverse transcriptase to build the DNA strand.
When AZT is incorporated instead of dTTP, its absence of a 3'OH group prevents further addition of nucleotides, effectively halting the synthesis of viral DNA. This action places AZT in the category of reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which are one of several approaches to fighting HIV.
AZT (zidovudine) is an antiretroviral drug used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It belongs to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that is crucial for the replication of the HIV virus. It converts the viral RNA into DNA, which can then be integrated into the host cell's genome.
AZT works by inhibiting the activity of reverse transcriptase. It is structurally similar to the building blocks of DNA but lacks the 3'-OH group necessary for DNA chain elongation. When AZT is incorporated into the growing DNA chain during reverse transcription, it terminates further chain elongation, preventing the completion of viral DNA synthesis. This disruption of the reverse transcription process inhibits the replication of the virus and reduces its ability to infect new cells.