HIV reverse transcriptase

[flano]

Anybody know anything about DNA who could tell me Could HIV be erradicated if we removed the protein reverse transcriptase? Has this already been tried or is it impossible?

thank you

[Peter Pedant]

No it is an idea which will get up and run

As a protein target it is rather a good one as it is a protein that does not occur in mammal cells and so should be specific. toxic effects hould be low

Actually it is not a very efficient protein and the mistake rate in transcription aids (haha!) the generation of diversity and mutation rate. HIV's rate of mutation is high.

Drugs have been developed for this - of which I cannot remember one - ddI ? and they work quite well.