RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP)

Definition

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) is an enzyme that catalyzes the replication of RNA from an RNA template. It is essential for the life cycle of RNA viruses.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. RdRP is crucial for the replication of positive-sense and negative-sense RNA viruses.
2. The enzyme synthesizes a complementary RNA strand using the viral RNA as a template.
3. RdRP lacks proofreading ability, leading to high mutation rates in RNA viruses.
4. Certain antiviral drugs target RdRP to inhibit viral replication.
5. RdRP activity can be found in various virus families such as Picornaviridae, Flaviviridae, and Coronaviridae.

Related terms

Reverse Transcriptase:

An enzyme that synthesizes DNA from an RNA template.

Positive-Sense RNA Virus: A virus whose genome can directly serve as mRNA.

Negative-Sense RNA Virus: A virus whose genome must be transcribed by RdRP to form mRNA.